- Targeted stakeholdersProtects working animals and recognizes harms against law enforcement animals with immigration consequences.
- Targeted stakeholdersDeters attacks on police and service animals by increasing consequences for noncitizens.
- Targeted stakeholdersEnhances public safety by potentially reducing incidents that injure handlers or first responders.
Federal Working Animal Protection Act
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make any noncitizen who has been convicted of, or who admits committing, acts that meet the essential elements of 18 U.S.C. 1368 (harming animals used in law enforcement) both inadmissible to the United States and deportable.
It adds parallel language to INA inadmissibility (section 212) and deportability (section 237) provisions.
The change applies to convictions or admissions that correspond to the federal offense referenced.
Narrow, non-controversial change with minimal fiscal impact makes enactment plausible; procedural Senate obstacles and legal questions about 'admissions' add uncertainty.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a concise and legally specific substantive amendment that adds a defined ground for inadmissibility and deportability by direct modification of the INA and cross-reference to the federal criminal statute.
Progressives focus on due process and family impact
Who stands to gain, and who may push back.
- Targeted stakeholdersAdmissions without conviction could trigger inadmissibility, raising due process concerns.
- Targeted stakeholdersExpands grounds for removal, potentially increasing immigration court caseloads and deportations.
- Targeted stakeholdersMay affect lawful permanent residents and long-term noncitizens with older convictions or admissions.
CBO cost estimate
The clearest budget scorecard attached to this bill: what it changes for direct spending, revenue, and the deficit.
As reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on December 12, 2025
Why the argument around this bill splits.
Progressives focus on due process and family impact
Supportive of protecting working animals and public safety but wary of expanding immigration enforcement.
Concerned admission-based deportability and criminalization could harm due process and immigrant families.
Wants narrow, proportional implementation and procedural safeguards.
Generally supportive because it protects public safety and law enforcement resources while imposing limited new immigration consequences.
Wants clarifications to avoid unintended removals and to ensure consistency with state convictions and due process.
Strongly favorable: protects police animals, supports law enforcement, and enables removal of foreigners who attack working animals.
Sees the measure as a modest, targeted expansion of immigration enforcement with symbolic and practical value.
The path through Congress.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Narrow, non-controversial change with minimal fiscal impact makes enactment plausible; procedural Senate obstacles and legal questions about 'admissions' add uncertainty.
- How immigration authorities will interpret or prove an "admission"
- Potential due-process or statutory-interpretation litigation risk
Recent votes on the bill.
Passed
On Passage
Go deeper than the headline read.
Progressives focus on due process and family impact
Narrow, non-controversial change with minimal fiscal impact makes enactment plausible; procedural Senate obstacles and legal questions abou…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a concise and legally specific substantive amendment that adds a defined ground for inadmissibility and deportability by direct modification of the INA and cross-r…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.