On day three of the partial government shutdown, a big question lingers: where exactly are the Democrats? It appears the halls of Congress are quieter than they should be, as the Democrats remain entrenched in their demands over immigration and customs enforcement. Meanwhile, essential workers at Homeland Security continue their jobs without pay, a scenario that seems all too familiar these days. One can almost hear the collective eye-roll of these dedicated public servants who somehow manage to keep going, paycheck or not.

Despite the shutdown, the mission of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) soldiers on. The federal agents, funded prior to the shutdown, aren’t letting anything slow them down. However, the increasing threats and assaults directed toward ICE officers, skyrocketing by over 1,500% in some areas, mean that these agents must now add new items to their list of protective gear. Mask-wearing, which some Democrats are bizarrely opposing, is just one of many protective measures these officers need to carry out their duties safely, given the hostility they face.

Meanwhile, Democrats have rolled out a rather theatrical list of demands, which seem more about stirring the pot than fostering any real change. From requiring ICE agents to unmask and show their IDs like they’re entering a middle school dance, to banning enforcement activities near hospitals or schools—it’s almost as if they want ICE agents to wear target signs. Republicans have rightfully branded these demands as performative, noting that these aren’t practical solutions but rather political stagecraft meant to delay reopening the Department of Homeland Security.

With the State of the Union address looming, it’s quite telling that there’s no concrete Democratic response on whether the shutdown will play any role in it. One might assume they’re waiting to see if keeping things closed could be used as political leverage as President Trump prepares to address the nation. It’s as if their strategy is straight out of a reality TV playbook—stay unpredictable, maintain drama, and keep everyone guessing. Political theater indeed.

Then there’s the larger picture—Democrats, despite their public posturing, seem to be in crisis over ICE and immigration policies. Once upon a time, even their beloved former President Obama took strong stances on deportations, but now it’s suddenly not okay. The Democrats’ mixed signals hint at a party struggling with its identity. Do they want reform or to throw the baby out with the bathwater by completely dismantling ICE? While they hem and haw, the rest of America just wants to see laws enforced and order preserved, principles that are as essential now as the departments working without pay to uphold them.