February 12, 2026
Ms. Mace introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that an alien convicted of an offense involving animal cruelty is inadmissible and deportable, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Illegal Alien Animal Abuser Removal Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Inadmissibility and deportability related to animal cruelty
(a) Inadmissibility
Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(J) Animal cruelty and animal fighting
Any alien who has been convicted of, who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts constituting the essential elements of—
(i)
an offense under sections 48 or 49 of title 18, United States Code; or
(ii)
an offense under State, Tribal, or local law, an essential element of which is animal cruelty, animal abuse, or animal fighting, regardless of whether such offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under State, Tribal, or local law,
is inadmissible.
(b) Deportability
Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(G) Animal cruelty and animal fighting
Any alien who has been convicted of—
(i)
an offense under sections 48 or 49 of title 18, United States Code; or
(ii)
an offense under State, Tribal, or local law, an essential element of which is animal cruelty, animal abuse, or animal fighting, regardless of whether such offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under State, Tribal, or local law,
is deportable.