The House passed the Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals Act (BOWOW Act) 228-190 Friday, with Republicans and 15 Democrats voting in favor, while 190 Democrats opposed it. The measure allows non-citizens convicted of harming animals used by law enforcement to be deemed inadmissible and subject to deportation.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) criticized Democrats on X, saying the party “just decided to officially become the party of PUNCHING PUPPIES” by opposing the bill. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called the vote “truly sickening,” and Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) described supporting the legislation as “one of the easiest decisions” of his congressional career, citing the importance of protecting working dogs.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) following a 2025 incident in which 70-year-old Egyptian national Hamed Ramadan Bayoumy Aly Marie kicked and injured Freddie, a five-year-old U.S. Customs and Border Protection beagle, after the dog alerted agents to potential contraband at Washington Dulles International Airport. Veterinarians confirmed Freddie sustained contusions to his right front rib area.

The measure is intended to hold illegal immigrants accountable for attacking law enforcement animals, a provision critics argued is necessary to protect officers and their service animals from preventable harm.