Overview

• The BOWOW Act (Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals Act of 2025) creates immigration penalties for harming law enforcement animals like police dogs, horses, and search-and-rescue animals.
• The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to add this offense to the list of crimes that make non-citizens inadmissible or deportable.
• Introduced July 23, 2025, with 20 cosponsors. Reported out of committee December 12, 2025, and placed on the House calendar for floor consideration.

Who does this affect?

• Main groups: Non-citizens convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 1368 (federal law criminalizing harm to law enforcement animals), immigration enforcement agencies processing admissibility cases, law enforcement agencies using working animals.
• Who benefits: Law enforcement agencies gain additional deterrent against harming working animals. Who loses: Non-citizens convicted of this offense face permanent immigration consequences including denial of entry or deportation.
• Teen impact score: 1/10 (minimal teen connection—affects non-citizens convicted of specific federal crime)

What This Bill Does

• Amends Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)) to add subsection (J) making non-citizens inadmissible if convicted of, or admitting to, harming animals used in law enforcement under 18 U.S.C. § 1368.
• Amends Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) to add subsection (G) making non-citizens deportable under the same conviction or admission standard.
• Applies to convictions, admissions of having committed the offense, or admissions of acts constituting the essential elements of the offense—three separate triggers for inadmissibility or deportation.
• References existing federal criminal statute 18 U.S.C. § 1368, which already criminalizes harming law enforcement animals—this bill adds immigration consequences to that existing crime.

Legislative Status

• Introduced in House July 23, 2025, and referred to Judiciary Committee.
• Reported with amendment December 12, 2025 (Report No. 119-407), committed to Committee of the Whole House, and placed on Union Calendar No. 355.
• Awaits House floor consideration. Has not yet been voted on by full House.

In short

• Creates new immigration penalties for non-citizens who harm police dogs and other law enforcement animals.
• Non-citizens convicted of this federal crime would be barred from entering the U.S. or could be deported if already here.
• Applies to convictions under existing federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1368) or admissions of committing the offense.
• Bill has cleared committee and awaits House floor vote.
• Adds this offense to the Immigration and Nationality Act's list of crimes with immigration consequences.

Why should I care?

This bill connects immigration enforcement to animal welfare by adding consequences for harming working animals. Law enforcement agencies rely on trained dogs and horses for searches, patrols, and rescue operations. The bill treats harming these animals as seriously as other crimes that trigger deportation. For families with non-citizen members, this expands the list of offenses that can result in removal from the country. It reflects ongoing debates about which crimes should carry immigration penalties and how strictly to enforce immigration law. The bill also shows how Congress uses immigration policy to reinforce other federal priorities like protecting law enforcement resources.