Non-citizens who harm police dogs or horses may face entry bans and deportation from the United States under a bill passed by the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation, known as H.R. 4638, aims to enhance safeguards for law enforcement animals.
The bill proposes amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to designate harming animals used in law enforcement as a specific ground for inadmissibility and deportation. This provision would apply to aliens convicted of such offenses or those who admit to engaging in acts that meet the criteria of the federal crime.
Republican lawmakers argue that the bill addresses gaps in immigration law and enables swifter action against offenders. The focus of the legislation is on federal agency animals, particularly horses and dogs.
In a specific incident at Washington Dulles International Airport in June 2025, an Egyptian national kicked a CBP beagle named Freddie. The dog had alerted officers to prohibited food items in the traveler’s luggage. The individual later pleaded guilty under federal law, covered veterinary expenses, and was deported.
Advocates of the bill assert that it will streamline the handling of similar cases by clearly outlining the immigration repercussions of harming law enforcement animals. However, Democrats on the committee have expressed strong opposition to the legislation and have submitted dissenting views.
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the committee’s ranking Democrat, argues that the bill is redundant as the targeted conduct is already a federal offense with existing immigration consequences post-conviction. He raises concerns about the bill’s provision for deportation based on admission of conduct without formal legal proceedings, potentially undermining due process rights.
Raskin highlights that current immigration authorities treat animal cruelty offenses as crimes involving moral turpitude upon conviction, citing previous decisions by immigration appeals bodies. He points to the successful handling of the Dulles airport case, where the offender was prosecuted, convicted, and removed from the country.
The committee has not yet received a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office but clarifies that the bill does not introduce new federal programs or authorize additional spending. The legislation will now proceed to the full House, where it is anticipated to trigger debates on immigration enforcement, public safety, and due process.
