Perhaps Becerra has designs on a leading role in a Hispanic secessionist movement in the Southwest?
The increasing likelihood of the border wall going up and choking off the flood of illegal immigrants necessary to establish a demographic takeover in the region could easily force the issue. Hispanics who want to form their own country or join Mexico would find themselves in a now-or-never situation.
Becerra and his ilk are moving from merely defying federal authority on certain laws to renouncing it outright.
I think you’re quite right. Calif authority is banking on forcing Trump to use force in Calif and the people rising up aginst the Feds.