World Trump wants up to 15,000 troops at border to deal with migrant caravan. Political stunt or national emergency? October 31, 2018 Alan Gomez and Bart Jansen and David Jackson, USA TODAY Comments Off on Trump wants up to 15,000 troops at border to deal with migrant caravan. Political stunt or national emergency? President Trump says he may deploy 15,000 troops to southern border, but military experts and congressional leaders say it’s a “political stunt.”