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Brookline High Students Walk Out Over Controversial Report

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, February 19th 2026 at 13:11 GMT by Patch
      Locales: Massachusetts, UNITED STATES

BROOKLINE, MA - February 19th, 2026 - In a powerful display of civic engagement, an estimated 600 students at Brookline High School walked out of classes today, February 19th, to protest a controversial report released earlier this month by the Institute for Constitutional Economics (ICE). The protest, which began at approximately 10:30 a.m., saw students gathering on the school's campus, carrying signs and chanting slogans expressing solidarity with immigrant communities and demanding a retraction - or at least a thorough reevaluation - of the report's findings.

The ICE report, titled "Economic Impacts of Non-Citizen Populations: A Regional Analysis," has ignited a firestorm of criticism since its release on February 2nd. While the Institute maintains its work is based on rigorous economic modeling and aims to provide objective data for policymakers, advocacy groups and community leaders have labeled the report as biased, misleading, and contributing to xenophobic narratives. The primary concern centers around the report's methodology, which critics argue disproportionately focuses on potential costs associated with immigrant populations - focusing heavily on social service utilization and, controversially, potential criminal activity statistics - while downplaying the significant economic contributions immigrants make through entrepreneurship, labor participation, and tax revenue.

Student organizers, led by a coalition of the school's Social Justice Club, Debate Team, and several independent student groups, say they were compelled to act after reading the report and discussing its potential implications for their community. Brookline, a famously progressive and diverse suburb of Boston, has a significant immigrant population, and students expressed fears that the report could fuel discriminatory practices and negatively impact their peers and neighbors.

"It's not just about the numbers," explained Sarah Chen, a senior and one of the key organizers of the walkout. "This report paints a really negative picture of immigrants and ignores all the amazing things they bring to our town. It's dangerous to use economic arguments to justify treating people differently. We wanted to show everyone that we stand with our immigrant classmates, friends, and families."

Brookline High School Principal Michael Armstrong, while acknowledging the disruption, released a statement praising the students' passion and commitment to social issues. "We respect our students' right to express their opinions peacefully and encourage them to engage in thoughtful dialogue about important issues," the statement read. "We've worked with student leaders to ensure the protest remained safe and constructive, and we're committed to providing a space for students to discuss these complex topics in the classroom." However, some parents voiced concerns about the walkout, questioning whether it was an appropriate use of school time and arguing that students should have focused on their studies.

The walkout has also sparked a wider debate within the town of Brookline. The Select Board is scheduled to hold a public forum next week to discuss the ICE report and its potential impact on the community. Several local organizations have announced plans to participate in the forum, including the Brookline Immigrant and Refugee Coalition and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). MIRA has been particularly vocal in its criticism of the ICE report, releasing a detailed analysis outlining its alleged methodological flaws and biased conclusions. [ See MIRA's full report here: https://www.miracoalition.org/icereportanalysis ].

The Institute for Constitutional Economics has responded to the criticism with a statement defending its work. "Our report is based on sound economic principles and is intended to provide policymakers with objective data," the statement read. "We are committed to transparency and welcome constructive feedback, but we will not be deterred by baseless accusations of bias."

This incident at Brookline High School is emblematic of a growing trend of student activism across the country, particularly on issues related to social justice and immigration. Young people are increasingly demonstrating a willingness to engage in political discourse and demand action from their elected officials. Whether this translates into lasting policy changes remains to be seen, but the students of Brookline High School have certainly made their voices heard. The debate surrounding the ICE report and the student response raises critical questions about the role of economic analysis in shaping public perception and the importance of fostering inclusive communities.