The House of Representatives passed the BOWOW Act in a 228 to 190 vote that split largely along party lines.
The new legislation mandates the automatic deportation of any non citizen who is found to have assaulted a federal working dog.
Under the provisions of the act, harming a law enforcement animal now serves as immediate grounds for removal from the United States, effectively bypassing months of traditional legal red tape and immigration hearings.
Supporters of the bill argued that federal working animals are vital members of the law enforcement community and deserve the highest level of legal protection.
The momentum for the bill grew following a widely publicized 2025 incident at Dulles International Airport involving a 70 year old traveler and a Customs and Border Protection beagle named Freddie.
Freddie was reportedly kicked by the traveler after the dog successfully detected prohibited food items inside the individual's luggage, sparking a national debate over the penalties for such actions.
Democratic opponents of the bill argued that the legislation is overly punitive and suggested that the government's primary focus should remain on human victims of crime.
Critics also expressed concern that the "automatic" nature of the deportation could lead to a lack of due process for individuals involved in such incidents.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces a more uncertain future among lawmakers who are divided on broader immigration reform.
If signed into law, the BOWOW Act would represent one of the most specific expansions of deportable offenses seen in recent years, specifically elevating the status of service animals in federal immigration policy.