Although Quinn Meinerz didn’t use to believe in using social media, he has become far more deliberate about when he chooses to speak publicly. Now, as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies immigration enforcement around the Super Bowl, the Denver Broncos guard, already vocal about social issues in the past, did not stay quiet. He turned to social media to address an issue he clearly felt warranted a public response.

“They are abducting children and killing innocent citizens,” Meinerz said, via Yahoo Sports. “ICE is terrorizing America. ABOLISH ICE.”

According to reporter Dov Kleiman, Quinn Meinerz became one of the first active NFL players to call for the abolition of ICE.

But not just that, the NFL guard had made another bold move just hours before the Broncos clashed with the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. He took to social media to share a clothing company’s post, which addressed the recent killing of Alex Pretti. It noted that Pretti’s death marked the third shooting involving federal agents in the city within three weeks, one of which was nonfatal.

The first one was the killing of Renée Good on January 7 by an ICE agent. The recent incident involving Pretti took place in Minneapolis when U.S. Border Patrol agents were involved in an altercation with the 37-year-old intensive care nurse from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Trump’s administration defended the deadly encounter, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claiming that the agent shot Pretti because he was “brandishing” a gun, a claim that has since been questioned by The Washington Post and eyewitness accounts. 

Notably, this isn’t the first time Quinn Meinerz has strongly opposed such actions on social media. In November, he participated in the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative, lending visible support to efforts aimed at ending gun violence, a nonpartisan league-backed program that marked one of his more prominent on-record stances. He even shared an Instagram post that featured him sporting a T-shirt that read, “End Gun Violence.” In another post from October last year, he advocated for gender equality. “Men of quality don’t wear inequality,” his tee read.

This time, the 27-year-old’s comments come after ICE revealed plans to conduct immigration enforcement during the Super Bowl event.

ICE reveals its Super Bowl plans

The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks are set to lock horns for Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. While excitement hits the roof, the buildup has just taken a serious turn. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that ICE agents will maintain a firm presence inside and around the stadium. 

Trump recently bashed the NFL’s decision to feature Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny for the halftime show. He described the move as “absolutely ridiculous” and “terrible.”

So far, the NFL has not publicly addressed how the expanded ICE presence might affect stadium access. The officials have not made it clear whether they have coordinated specific protocols with federal agencies. Meanwhile, protests calling for “No ICE at the Super Bowl” are gaining widespread attention.

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In fact, local advocacy groups in Santa Clara are already organizing legal aid and rapid-response support for fans who will be there for the game. Despite the growing controversy, DHS leadership refrains from changing its security plan for the nation’s biggest sporting event.

“DHS is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the Super Bowl is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the World Cup,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told TMZ Sports. “Our mission remains unchanged. We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel. Super Bowl security will entail a whole of government response conducted in-line with the U.S. Constitution.”

As Super Bowl LX approaches, the spotlight shifts to the growing clash between sports and immigration enforcement.