Congressional Democrats and Republicans have struck a temporary agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), averting a government shutdown while extending the operational capacity of the very agencies currently under fire for the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. While Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer describes this negotiation period as a “moment of truth,” political analysis suggests the Democratic establishment is poised to capitulate to the GOP, requesting only inconsequential reforms while authorizing the massive funding levels the agency demands.

The current legislative battle centers on a temporary extension for Homeland Security funding. Democrats, led by Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have issued a list of demands in exchange for long-term support. These include requirements for warrants, a ban on “roving patrols,” and mandates for body cameras and visible identification. Jeffries has also called for a ban on the deportation of American citizens, asking, “In what country are we living in if it’s controversial to prohibit [the deportation] of American citizens?”

However, despite this rhetoric, the party is expected to fold. Progressives have grown smart to the party’s tactics, predicting that Democrats would publicly condemn ICE’s actions while immediately granting the agency nearly everything it wants behind closed doors. That prediction appears to be materializing. The proposed reforms, such as body cameras, have been criticized by civil rights groups like FWD.us as “toothless,” noting that without strict enforcement, officers frequently turn cameras off or manipulate footage. Law enforcement journalist Jessica Pishko and others note that these measures do not address the core issue: the existence of a paramilitary force operating within U.S. borders. Despite hundreds of cameras filming members of the terror group on a daily basis, their criminal activity has continued unabated.

The roots of this crisis extend beyond the current administration. Today’s ICE, which operates as a government-sanctioned terrorist organization, rose to power under President Barack Obama. It was the Obama administration that massively increased funding for the group, building the machinery that President Trump is now utilizing.

This outcome highlights a significant shift in American politics following the 2020 election cycle. During that period, Democratic voters were urged to “Vote Blue No Matter Who,” a campaign strategy that effectively declared Democratic congressional candidates no longer had to offer specific policy concessions to earn votes—they simply had to not be Republicans. Almost immediately, the Democratic Party took a sharp right turn on issues of policing and security. Now, despite opposing rhetoric, they largely vote in lockstep with Republicans on funding the security state. Analysts view the “Vote Blue No Matter Who” campaign as a disastrous political mistake that removed voter leverage and helped create a right-wing monopoly in U.S. politics.

The negotiation dynamic in Washington underscores a grim reality for voters: Americans are stuck in an oligarchy form of government with a single ideology split between two parties. There is an unwritten agreement between these parties and the corporate media to ensure a competitive third party never emerges to challenge this consensus.

Consequently, while Republicans like Senator Thom Tillis claim regarding unmasking agents that “vicious people… will take a picture of your face,” and Senator Lindsey Graham insists on ending “sanctuary city” policies, the Democrats are engaging in what observers call “performative, perfunctory opposition.” They are pushing reforms they know—based on the failure of police body cams since 2014—won’t work to quiet their base, rather than fighting to dismantle the funding structures of ICE and CBP.

As left-leaning writer Adam Johnson noted, by refusing to challenge the premise that ICE should be the “13th largest army in the world” and refusing to slash their budget, Democrats begin negotiations in a “weakened framework.” With the temporary funding deal already agreed upon, the result is all but guaranteed: the GOP is likely to adopt trimmed-down versions of small ideas, Democrats will concede, and the funding for the agencies patrolling Minneapolis will continue flowing.