AMHERST — Amherst residents are petitioning the Town Council to push back on Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions that might lead to immigrants being held against their will and possibly being deported from the United States.

At the council’s June 16 meeting, the second held following the late May incidents in which two Amherst residents were picked up by ICE, an appeal was made by residents for police officers to take a more active role in helping immigrants living in the community, and identifying the legitimacy of federal agents who may be operating in town.

“We can only anticipate that there’ll be more of these given the current situation, and that’s what brings us here tonight,” said Robin Harris of Woodlot Road.

Harris, who was joined by Jane Laskey, also of Woodlot, and Joyce Duncan of Mount Pollux Drive, delivered an information sheet titled “Practical Policing Suggestions for Curbing ICE Abuses in Amherst” that provides an overview of the approach they would like to see.

“What we’re looking for is to stick to our mandate as a sanctuary town, and to do that not only in spirit, but in action,” Harris said.

One of the elements of the proposal is for police to bear witness and be responsive when people are calling for help and need protection from ICE. This could include reporting any possible actions to LUCE, the immigration justice network that operates a hotline and has trained local volunteers who can go out quickly to verify the situation.

Laskey said the idea is to document ICE activity and get information out rapidly, observing that speed is of the essence.

“We are asking that in some way the Amherst Police Department can have a policy of informing LUCE whenever they learn of suspected ICE activity in Amherst,” Laskey said.

Duncan said asking for town action could protect immigrants by reporting intrusions into private property by unknown people, stakeouts, vehicles with improper or unidentifiable license plates and people visibly carrying weapons.

Other residents who spoke to councilors at the meeting suggested other approaches, such as sending out text notifications when the town manager’s office becomes aware of the presence of ICE, and having police, as an armed public safety department, find a way to deter ICE operatives.

Monday’s meeting was the second time this month that residents requested a more involved response from the town when it comes to ICE action. The council had several questions after its June 2 meeting and Town Manager Paul Bockelman said that he listened to and will consider all information provided by those who commented publicly to councilors. He said there are various hotlines and organizations that could be notified, and police have protocols that need to be followed.

The council is not allowed to respond to residents who speak at public comment, and they did not have a follow-up discussion after the meeting.