He's hoping/waiting for "someone" to start shooting.

This is still the perfect distraction for what else is going on, but an escalation would further cement his final authority on his will being the law.

The situation is almost a catch 22:
Do nothing against the blatant non legal operations (of ICE etc) and the regime gets what they want and consolidates power .... Bring about huge protests that fall into violent chaos and the regime will step over laws and cement power above the book of law to oppress all who oppose.

That's more soldiers than you usually see at the start of an invasion. Normally we send bombers and then a few hundred at a time to key positions. Trump just sends the biggest number he can.

Because lawsuits have been really deterring him so far.