HOUSTON -- More than two dozen Houston middle and high school students were arrested and more than five dozen were issued citations Thursday as they protested proposed changes to the nation's immigration laws, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Officers with the Houston Police Department said they tried to corral about 150 students from Madison High School and Dowling Middle School as they walked on South Post Oak Boulevard near Gasmer Street, but some of the students broke free, running into traffic, through construction sites and into an apartment complex.

Houston police eventually arrested 28 students on charges of breaking truancy laws.

"We had a different group today. We had a group of kids, in some cases, that did not want to go back to school and were quite insistent on being processed, so we did that for curfew violation and for not complying with the police out here," HPD Capt. Dwayne Ready said.

Ready told KPRC Local 2 that he felt some of the students really wanted to be arrested.

"I think that's the message they're trying to get across," Ready said.

Officers with the Houston Independent School District Police Department issued citations for curfew violations to 67 students -- 33 students were from Dowling and 34 students were from Madison. The Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $200.

HISD officials said students caught protesting could be suspended from school for up to three days or removed from school indefinitely. The students also received an unexcused absence, which could affect their academic record.

Besides arresting students on truancy charges, HPD also arrested one student for allegedly hindering traffic.

A female student involved in the protest was taken to Ben Taub Hospital after suffering from complications with a medical condition.

Some of the students told KPRC Local 2 that they were headed to Westbury High School, while others said they were en route to City Hall.

Ready said that students involved in the protests should listen to police once officers arrive on the scene.

"I think the message has already resonated throughout the country. I don't think trying to ride out the rest of the school year under protests is really going to work. When police officers do arrive, it's very important that you listen to them and that you comply. If not, we, too, will take it to the next level. If that means we have to arrest you and take you to juvenile division, have your parents come out and process you out, then we'll have to do that," Ready said.

Several local Hispanic and other Houston-area school district leaders joined HISD Superintendent Abe Saavedra for a news conference Thursday afternoon aimed at encouraging students to stay in class and find more appropriate ways of getting their voices heard.

"If there is going to be an opportunity for expression or protest, that should occur before school or after school," Saavedra said.

Saavedra wants principals to crack down on students demonstrating during school hours by suspending or expelling them.

He praised students from Lamar High School. They held a peaceful protest at the school's flagpole Thursday morning before classes began.

Study Needed On How Illegal Immigrants Impact Taxpayers

While many support immigrants starting a new life in Houston, experts said doing so illegally is costing local taxpayers millions.

About 15 percent of the Harris County Hospital District's budget will help pay for the health care of illegal immigrants this year. That's roughly $120 million.

"I think we ought to be prepared to say the local taxpayers of Harris County should be reimbursed," Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Raddack said.

"We have to realize that they have contributed to the economy for years, and the medical help they receive is precious little," Case de San Juan director Mark Zwick said.

Some Harris County commissioners said they would like a study to analyze how much illegal immigration costs the county annually.