Since I wrote my first letter to the editor, I’ve paid more attention to other letters. Here’s the thing I see. Maine points fingers at federal and Republican policies … while there’s a great part of Maine that mirrors those complaints.

People in Maine are concerned about ICE and unfair arrests and deportations. They should be. But where is the outrage against Maine’s own unfair police practices and a justice system that overrepresents the most vulnerable population in the state, our juveniles and young adults?

In Maine, 18-24-year-olds are overrepresented in the justice system by 10-15%. I’ve lived in a few places, and I’ve got to say, the kids in Maine are not all that bad. Try going to Yakima, Washington, or Gary, Indiana. Yet, the Maine law enforcement and justice systems seem to think the kids in Maine need to be put in their place. Is this just bullying behind badges and desks? Do you remember things you might have done when you were their age?

When police are allowed to break residents’ Fourth Amendment rights because courts won’t even consider that evidence unless the incident goes fully to trial, is that any better than ICE’s strategies that Mainers are now up in arms about?

When Maine has some of the hardest laws allowing internal investigations of potential corruption of law enforcement agencies in the country, that feels about as transparent as those masked ICE agents people are complaining about.

My point is simple. If ICE is a reflection of our nation becoming “nationalist,” Maine’s own law enforcement and justice systems reflect a state that believes it’s somehow better than most other states — that constitutional law is somehow below it.

I grew up in Maine. My mom was a proud Mainer. Too proud, as far as I’m concerned. I returned to Maine as an adult. Maine is a beautiful place. I love it. But its pride and vanity is unlike most places I’ve ever lived. Maine’s law enforcement looks petty compared to many other places; the state has some of lowest crime rates in the country. I think that’s a reflection of its people, not of law enforcement.

But for some reason, law enforcement believes that kids should never be able to do the things kids do. Have a beer in a parking lot. Drive cars with loud engines. I’d wager that many of those same officers who are targeting Maine’s youth drank beer before they were 21 and did donuts in school parking lots. But the state laws were not as stacked against them then.

And don’t even get me started about how hard the temporary license plate and inspection stickers make it for young and low-income people to get cars without breaking Maine’s ridiculous laws.

In the end, when you send your kids to jail for things kids do, you are creating more kids that just might grow up to be real criminals. Brilliant. So how about if all of you who are complaining about ICE, the Trump administration and abuses of authority also speak out about your own state’s abusive systems?