Press Release: 1/26/2026

A Statement of Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn and City Manager Yi-An Huang, Co-Chairs of the Metro Mayors Coalition

 

Posted on January 24, 2026 at 5:42 pm. Written by Amanda Linehan

 

The Metro Mayors Coalition decries the ICE occupation of Minneapolis and Portland. This is not a targeted immigration enforcement action, but instead resembles a militarized invasion of masked and armed federal agents intended to create fear and intimidation.

ICE is racially profiling our communities, detaining legal residents and U.S. citizens, and using excessive force against civilians. Two U.S. citizens have been killed and many more have been injured. Parents are keeping their children home from school, worshippers are staying home from their religious community, and families are missing doctor’s appointments and work for fear of being forcibly taken. Community trust is breaking and public safety is being jeopardized. These unconstitutional and unnecessary actions increase tensions and make us less safe.

 

An occupying force does not belong in our communities or anywhere in the United States of America. We demand an immediate end to ICE actions and call for full respect for the Constitution, civil liberties, and public safety.

The Metro Mayors Coalition is made up of the municipal leaders of the 17 municipalities of Metro Boston.

Learn more at https://www.mapc.org/get-involved/coalitions/mmc/.