Full Breakdown
NFL Requests DHS Removal of Brian Dawkins Video Used in Migrant-Caravan Messaging
By Drooid · · How we work
The Request and DHS Response
The National Football League formally asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to delete a 39-second X post that paired former Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins’s pre-game walk-out chant and a montage of his hard-hitting tackles with the caption “Our time has come.” The agency posted the video on a Sunday evening in response to a social-media report about a large migrant caravan moving toward the United States southern border.
DHS did not comply. After the NFL’s request, the department’s official account posted a still image of Dawkins with the caption “The Border Is Closed.” The video remained online into the following weekday.
Background: Migrant Caravan and DHS Messaging
The DHS post was tied to a reported caravan that departed San Pedro Sula, Honduras on September 20, 2026. The United States Border Patrol (USBP) said it was actively tracking the group as it moved north through Mexico. The agency’s messaging framed the caravan as a security threat, linking the imagery of Dawkins’s aggressive play to its immigration-enforcement narrative.
Official Statements & Responses
- James Percival, DHS general counsel, responded to the NFL’s request on X with a Bugs Bunny meme that read “No.”
- Brian Dawkins issued his own video statement, asserting that he had not authorized the use of his name, image, or likeness.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I have respectfully not given permission to anyone other than those I currently do business with to use my NIL. Be Blessed!” — Famer Brian Dawkins, to all official
- “Let’s be clear. I didn’t give permission for my name, image, and likeness to be used by anybody. … Take a deep breath.” — Famer Brian Dawkins, to all official
- “Hello, blessed people. All right, let’s be clear. Let’s be clear. I didn’t give permission for my name, image, and likeness to be used by anybody,” — Famer Brian Dawkins, to all official
- “Hello blessed people, hello blessed people,” — Famer Brian Dawkins, to all official
Timeline
- September 20, 2026 – USBP begins tracking a migrant caravan that left San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
- September 28 – DHS posts the Dawkins highlight reel with the caption “Our time has come,” linking it to the caravan report.
- September 28 – The NFL formally requests removal of the video; NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy conveys the request.
- Subsequent weekday – The video remains on DHS’s X account despite the league’s request.
Data & Statistics
- The caravan cited by DHS originated on September 20, 2026 in Honduras and has been described in agency statements as a “large” group moving northward.
The episode illustrates a clash between a major sports league’s control over its broadcast content and a federal agency’s use of popular culture to frame immigration policy. Both parties have publicly reiterated their positions, but the video’s continued presence indicates no immediate resolution.