House Bill Passes to Deport Immigrants Who Harm Police Animals

Almost all House Democrats opposed a new bill aimed at enabling law enforcement to deport immigrants who harm animals used by them.

This legislation, called the Injury to Public Animals Act (BOWOW Act), passed with a vote tally of 228-190. It saw bipartisan support, as 15 Democrats joined the Republicans in favor of the bill while 190 Democrats voted against it.

According to the BOWOW Act, any non-citizen convicted or admitting to harming animals in law enforcement could face deportation.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) remarked after the vote that with 190 Democrats opposing the bill, it’s clear that the Democratic Party has started to look like the “puppy-punching party.” He emphasized his disappointment, saying that the Democrats’ stance means they are prioritizing the rights of illegal immigrants over the well-being of service dogs that serve law enforcement.

“The level at which Democrats are willing to protect illegal aliens instead of Americans is disturbing,” Johnson stated.

Stephen Miller, a senior White House official, shared his dismay, stating it “made me feel really bad.”

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) expressed his views as well, calling harming law enforcement animals “horrible and evil.” He noted that his support for the bill came easily due to his love for dogs and his belief in the crucial role they play.

This bill was prompted by a specific incident involving an Egyptian national who injured a dog used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In June 2025, Hamed Ramadan Bayumi Ali Maree, aged 70, pleaded guilty to kicking a beagle named Freddie, which had alerted officials to possible contraband in its bag. The incident occurred at Washington Dulles International Airport, where veterinarians later found bruises on the five-year-old dog’s rib cage, as reported by the CBP.