The U.S. House passed the BOWOW Act on Thursday, 228-190, a bill that would make non-citizens who assault federal law enforcement animals inadmissible to the United States or subject to deportation. Every Republican voted in favor. Only 15 Democrats crossed the aisle.
The legislation amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to target non-citizens convicted under 18 U.S.C. 1368, the federal statute covering abuse of animals used in law enforcement, such as police dogs and horses. Anyone convicted under that statute, or who admits to such an assault, would be barred from entering the country or removed if already here.
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) introduced the bill in June 2025, citing an incident at Dulles International Airport where an Egyptian national kicked Freddie, a Customs and Border Protection beagle assigned to agricultural inspection duties.
“Coming to America is a privilege, not a right,” Calvert said when the House Judiciary Committee advanced the bill in November. “Anyone who assaults an animal, like Freddie, simply has no place in our country.”
The bill’s official description states its purpose is “to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to deem any alien who has been convicted of or admits to harming a federal law enforcement animal as inadmissible and deportable.”
The 15 Democrats who broke with their party to vote in favor were Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX), Sharice Davids (KS), Don Davis (NC), John Garamendi (CA), Jared Golden (ME), Vicente Gonzalez (TX), Josh Gottheimer (NJ), Adam Gray (CA), Chrissy Houlahan (PA), Greg Landsman (OH), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), Josh Riley (NY), Eric Sorensen (IL), Tom Suozzi (NY), and Eugene Vindman (VA).
Rep. Kevin Kiley, who recently left the Republican Party and now sits as an independent from California, also voted yes. It was his first vote since departing the GOP.
The measure now heads to the Senate.
