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NFL demands DHS pull immigration video featuring some of football’s hardest hits

September 29, 2026 | | Print Article

The latest “banger” post from the administration found a former player and a professional sports league speaking out with concern — just not about illegal immigration.

Throughout President Donald Trump’s second term, social media teams across the executive branch have succeeded in garnering attention and occasionally provoking celebrities. This time, the Department of Homeland Security has reportedly been asked by the NFL to remove a video featuring the Philadelphia Eagles former “Weapon X” tackling players likened to immigration enforcement.

Sunday, amid reports that a caravan of hundreds had departed Honduras en route to the United States’ southern border, DHS posted a compilation video of Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins that included hard hits from the safety set to Korn’s “Blind” on X under the caption “Our time has come.”

Shortly thereafter, a dramatic photo of Dawkins poised low to the ground was posted with the message, “The Border Is Closed.”

According to ESPN, the NFL requested the video be taken down.

The league wasn’t alone in voicing objection as, with his own short video posted to social media, Dawkins included the message, “I have respectfully not given permission to anyone other than those I currently do business with to use my [name, image and likeness]. Be Blessed!”

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Amid the objections, Chandler Rebel, a spokesperson for DHS, issued a statement to Forbes with a reference to the safety’s Marvel Comics-inspired nickname, “Weapon X,” telling the outlet, “DHS is playing lockdown defense at the border. We will use every Weapon at our disposal, from A to X, to keep Americans safe.”

Sunday’s post was only the latest time the administration had run afoul of organizations and public figures vying to keep their distance from policies and actions, be it because of opposition or fear of backlash from the woke mob.

However, the NFL did not disclose to ESPN whether or not it requested the White House remove a video that has remained on X since March, where clips of plays from the league and college football were interspersed with images of strikes against Iran set to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”

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Along with trolling the likes of entertainer Sabrina Carpenter by using her lyrics to respond after a video montage of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had used her music, DHS had demonstrated a willingness to comply with requests.

In 2025, after comedian and podcaster Theo Von spoke out, a video featuring him saying, “Heard you got deported dude…bye!” was taken down.

Von said in part as he objected to the video, “Yooo DHS i didn’t approve to be used in this. Please take this down and please keep me out of your ‘banger’ deportation videos.”

“When it comes to immigration my thoughts and heart are alot more nuanced than this video allows,” he added.

On the caravan, DHS told Fox News in a statement, “[United States Border Patrol] is closely engaged with its international partners to monitor their movement and any additional developments.”

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“USBP reminds migrants that under the leadership of President Trump and Homeland Secretary Mullin, the border has remained closed and secured for the last 16 months,” it continued, noting the days of “catch and release” are over, “and Biden’s disastrous open border policy has been SEALED SHUT.”

Kevin Haggerty
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