NFL requests removal of video featuring Brian Dawkins from DHS

The National Football League (NFL) has requested that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cease using a video featuring retired Hall of Fame player Brian Dawkins on social media. The video was used by DHS to illustrate its readiness for border protection in response to a caravan of immigrants reportedly heading towards the United States. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy stated on Monday, "The league has requested the DHS take down the video." The video, which was posted on Sunday, shows Dawkins, a former player for the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos, entering the field and chanting, "the time has come." It includes a montage of him tackling players, accompanied by heavy metal music, with the caption from DHS reading, "Our time has come." Dawkins, who retired in 2011, is recognized for his significant contributions to the NFL over his 16-season career. Immigration has been a focal point of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, with him characterizing the influx of migrants from Mexico as an "invasion" and previously deploying federal forces to address the situation. During his first term, Trump sent thousands of troops to the border to manage a caravan of Central American migrants, an action that faced criticism as an overreaction and a political maneuver ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.