Dear Editor:

Maine needs an effective crime fighting capacity, but “tough on crime” policy tends to end up being stupid on crime.

For example, with this crackdown on immigrants, we have too many very smart people doing stupid things. Police resources are being wasted on this anti-immigration folly being played out on the streets of our greatest cities. The local law enforcement community has enough to do without further distractions by ICE and its terror tactics.

What is true is that the greater majority of those detained by ICE have not committed any crime or even minor infractions. The number of those detained having a criminal record is so small as to call into question ICE’s effectiveness in crime fighting, suggesting that this expenditure of our tax dollars may be better spent chasing actual criminals.

And one cannot overlook the wasteful folly of sending our troops into cities to fight crime. Our men and women in uniform have much better things to do than intimidate the locals and harass those who legally and rightfully protest their unnecessary and uninvited interference in local affairs.

We, as citizens, want to help our law enforcement officials fight crime in our communities. We also hold the those in uniform in the highest esteem and respect. But this misapplication of our uniformed services on these stupid-on-crime policies, all the while trampling over people’s rights, undermines the very trust and respect they otherwise deserve.

On the table right now is a bill that will aid in helping Maine fight crime and protect the public. LD 1971 prohibits Maine’s law enforcement community from aiding and abetting ICE in the apprehension of immigrants, unless, of course, they are involved in a serious crime.

This law will free local law enforcement from the additional burdens the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda while maintaining the trust and respect they need to effectively fight crime in the communities they serve.

Let’s get smart on crime by taking the time to contact our elected state officials and urge them to support LD 1971.

Fred W. Nehring

Boothbay