Newton’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee held a public discussion on Wednesday night to review the possible actions should Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enter the city.

“The city councilors and mayor have not treated this situation as an emergency,” said Newton resident Ezra Abrams. “You need to throw policy out the window and fight back.”

The discussion was also meant to reaffirm Newton’s continued adherence to its 2017 Welcoming City ordinance, reassuring the city’s status as a sanctuary city, despite growing fears from residents.

“We have witnessed people with visas, green cards, and even citizens who have been picked up and put into prison,” said Newton resident Pat Burdick. “ICE is trying to grow prison capacity with warehouses unfit for holding people for months. We cannot allow this cruelty to be normalized.”

The meeting continued the committee’s immigration enforcement conversation, having previously reviewed the adequacy of Newton’s anti-ICE protections in March. Residents were allowed three-minute statements to express their concerns, anger, fear, and disagreement with the committee.

“I urge you to take an absolutely maximalist position to protect people,” said Newton resident Lindsay Golden. “My daughter looks like the people that ICE agents drag in cars and dehumanize in detention centers. I want to be able to tell my daughter that she is safe in Newton.”

Many advocated for the implementation of anti-ICE signs in public and municipal areas.

“We need to post signs that say ‘City of Newton, no ICE’ to sensitive buildings like schools,” said Newton resident Amelia Oliver.

In contrast to the steep anti-ICE viewpoints, Tom Mountain, Newton resident and former vice president of the Massachusetts Republican Party, stressed the importance of the detainment of undocumented non-citizens to prevent “angel moms” from becoming more prevalent.

“Angel moms” refers to the parents of children killed by undocumented non-citizens.

“The administration is going after criminal aliens—this will continue to Newton and elsewhere,” Mountain said. “If anyone is harmed by an illegal alien, given sanctuary status, the council will be responsible. The Trump administration is not your enemy, stop acting like he is.”

Other residents also voiced opposition to the negative portrayal of ICE agents.

“Now we’re afraid of seeing people in masks? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all night,” said Newton resident Janet Sterman. “My doctor wears a mask when I go into his office. Should I not go see my doctor because he’s wearing a mask?”

Newton resident Sandy Young articulated that residents should trust and appreciate all law enforcement, including ICE, accepting them the same way they would accept immigrants.

“ICE’s job is to detain criminal immigrants who broke the law—they should be detained, they have overstayed their welcome,” said Newton resident Fidel Ramos. “Allow police to turn over people who have broken the law to ICE. When you don’t, ICE has to hunt them down, causing turmoil on our streets.”

Additional concerns from residents varied from the use of masks within law enforcement, fear of what might happen to family members, and discontent with a perceived lack of effort from the mayoral office.

At the end of the public discussion, various council members discussed their opinions.

“Thank you to everyone who came to speak tonight and shared your bravery and thoughts,” said Ward 4 Councilor-at-Large Cyrus Dahmubed. “However, I do think it’s important to note that the most vulnerable in our community might be those people that we’re not hearing from because they’re not comfortable being in these places.”

Other members agreed to discuss and tackle the issue sooner rather than later.

“I heard fear, empathy, frustration, a desire for justice, humanity, anxiety, and dislocation,” said Ward 6 Councilor-at-Large Sean Roche. “I am renewed in my commitment to our residents and neighbors to address this crisis. I encourage you, Chair, to do everything we can to discuss this as quickly as possible.”

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_{This story is from The Heights, an independent, nonprofit newspaper run by Boston College students with which the Newton Beacon has a partnership.}