EAST GREENWICH, R.I. — East Greenwich Town Council member Caryn Corenthal called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement "a terrorist organization" Monday night, as the council discussed federal immigration arrests that took place in East Greenwich late last month.

"I'm all for a policy that says we don't want them here at all," Corenthal said. "I don't want them in the town, I don't want them in the state, I don't want them in the country, frankly."

Corenthal added that even people with criminal records "should be handled, you know, with due process, which this clearly was not done," and said, "to me, they're a terrorist organization. I don't want them here."

ICE Boston said three Guatemalan nationals were arrested in East Greenwich in "targeted operations" in late October, WJAR reported. According to ICE, all three entered the country illegally. The agency said one had pleaded no contest to driving with a suspended or revoked license and another had previously been arrested for shoplifting. ICE did not report a criminal history for the third man.

Town Manager Andrew Nota raised the arrests during his report, saying residents had asked a number of questions about them. He said the East Greenwich Police Department knew nothing about the operation and had no involvement, consistent with an internal department policy that the council has reviewed.

Nota said ICE generally does not share information with local or state officials, or give them advance notice, unless it needs their help. "So it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that we're not receiving that information," he said.

Nota said some residents had asked why the town didn't send someone to the business where the arrests happened. He said sending a uniformed officer in a marked car would send "a very, very different message" than asking questions casually, and that the department is "really under a mandate not to be involved."

The police chief told the council that local officers have no authority over immigration decisions, and that showing up to demand answers from federal agents "could be considered interference."

"I wouldn't want to put my men and women in that kind of situation," the chief said.

Nota said the council could go further than the department's policy, for example by adopting an ordinance or requiring that the administration and council be notified when such events occur. He asked the council for direction.

Council members leaned toward an informal approach instead. One member suggested responding case by case and keeping a list of attorneys for referrals, rather than adopting a policy that "might actually limit us." Another said the town had "no real power against the federal government," and that residents who want to help affected families should organize as a community.

Council President Mark Schwager said U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner's office has staff who handle such cases and can help find where detainees are being held. Members also mentioned U.S. Sen. Jack Reed's office and possible state resources through the governor's office. One member said they did not want the town endorsing outside advocacy groups they had never heard of.

The council asked Nota to work with Schwager and the congressional delegation on a referral process.