Politics is a very strange kind of theater, a show where the actors never learn their lines but keep getting paid via campaign donations. In the high-stakes **Texas Senate race**, we recently saw a perfect example of this performance. Two ambitious candidates, Representative Jasmine Crockett and state Representative James Talarico, stood on a stage to debate the future of the state. They are running to represent Texas in Washington D.C., and their latest script involves a total **ICE overhaul**. During the Saturday debate, both Crockett and Talarico used this phrase—a favorite among politicians—to signal a desire for radical change in **border policy**.

In reality, an 'overhaul' usually just means moving some desks around and hiring more bureaucrats to fill out forms. It’s a way to look busy without actually solving the complexities of immigration.

What makes this story truly optimized for maximum outrage is the timing. These calls for an **ICE overhaul** came just hours after a tragic shooting in Minnesota. While a shooting in Minnesota has nothing to do with immigration agencies in Texas, in the world of political theater, every tragedy is a high-traffic opportunity to speak louder. It is a race to see who can look the most concerned on camera while people in another state deal with a nightmare. It is cold, it is calculated, and it is exactly what we have come to expect from those vying for leadership.

Jasmine Crockett has built her brand on viral moments that make the internet happy, while James Talarico plays the part of the intellectual progressive. Both are competing to see who can hate the current system the most. They treat ICE like a monster, telling voters that a total restructuring will fix everything.

But here is the truth the SEO-friendly headlines won't tell you: the system is designed to be broken. If the border were actually secured, what would they campaign on during the next election? The mess is their job security. They promise a new beginning every six years, yet we remain stuck in a loop of bureaucratic incompetence. Using a tragedy as a backdrop for a policy debate shows a total lack of shame, but it also shows desperation. They know the audience is bored, so they have to turn up the volume to keep you scared or angry.

Ultimately, these debates aren't about solutions; they are about personal branding. Texas is big, but it’s not big enough to hide the fact that these politicians are just playing parts. They don’t want to fix the system; they just want to be the ones in charge of the mess.

**References & Fact-Check:** - **Primary Source:** [NBC News: Democrats in Texas Senate race call for ICE overhaul, hours after Minnesota shooting](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/democrats-call-ice-overhaul-texas-senate-debate-hours-minnesota-shooti-rcna255593) - **Authoritative Context:** U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy debates in the 2026 election cycle. - **Fact-Check:** The debate occurred on Saturday involving Rep. Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico; the Minnesota shooting occurred earlier that day.