In a largely party-line vote on Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals (BOWOW) Act, a measure aimed at deporting noncitizens who harm law enforcement animals.
The legislation passed with a 228-190 vote, with just 15 Democratic lawmakers supporting the bill, and all Republicans voting in favor.
The BOWOW Act: A Focus on Law Enforcement Animals
The BOWOW Act, introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), targets noncitizens who harm law enforcement animals, such as police dogs or mounted police horses. The bill proposes that any noncitizen convicted of or admitting to assaulting a law enforcement animal would be deported and permanently barred from re-entry into the United States.
In introducing the legislation, Rep. Calvert argued that law enforcement animals play an essential role in federal law enforcement operations and deserve protection.
He stated, “The dogs and horses on the front lines of our federal law enforcement efforts alongside our officers deserve our protection. [It] sends a clear message that we will stand up for our four-legged friends and have zero tolerance for any immigrants who assault them.”
The Incident Behind the Legislation
The bill was partly inspired by an incident at Dulles Airport in June 2025, where Hamed Aly Marie, an Egyptian traveler, kicked a police K-9 that had been used to screen luggage for smuggled produce.
Marie was arrested by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and pleaded guilty to malicious assault on the police dog before being sent back to Egypt. Calvert’s legislation would have made Marie eligible for deportation and prevented him from ever re-entering the U.S.
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) voiced strong support for the bill, stating, “Can’t we at least all agree that kicking a 5-year-old beagle at an airport should disqualify a foreign national from entering our country ever again?”
Democratic Opposition: Concerns Over Legal Rights
The bill, however, faced strong opposition from Democrats, with many arguing that such offenses could already lead to deportation under existing laws. Democrats also raised concerns that the BOWOW Act could violate the due process rights of legal immigrants by potentially allowing for their removal before a formal conviction is obtained.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) criticized the legislation on the House floor, linking it to the broader political climate. He said, “Here’s what America is talking about: Donald Trump’s unauthorized, undeclared war of choice. What are MAGA Republicans in Congress talking about this week? They’re talking about the BOWOW Act.”
Senate Challenges and Broader GOP Legislative Moves
Despite passing in the House, the BOWOW Act is unlikely to gain traction in the Senate, where it faces strong opposition from Democratic senators. Many believe the bill will be dead on arrival in the upper chamber, where Democrats hold significant influence.
In addition to the BOWOW Act, Republicans also passed a separate bill this week targeting noncitizens who commit fraud in the U.S. This legislation would also make noncitizens convicted of or admitting to fraud eligible for deportation and a ban on future entry into the U.S. The bill passed with all Republicans and 20 Democrats voting in favor.
Notably, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), one of the most vulnerable Democrats seeking re-election, opposed the fraud measure.
