Comment by rhubarbtree

Does anyone else think that the biggest reason for ICE and the National Guard deployments is to normalise such situations?

It seems most likely to me this is being done in preparation for the ending of democracy. If the midterms become mired in controversy, for example, there will be protests on the streets. And these deployments will be ready to crush dissent. This is why deployments are mostly focused on the likely flashpoints.