Deporting Illegal Poachers Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8847
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-02T06:38:38Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to classify certain violations of federal or state hunting, trapping, or fishing laws as grounds for inadmissibility and deportability of noncitizens.
Key Provisions
- Adds a new subparagraph (J) to Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, making an alien inadmissible if they have been convicted of, admitted to committing, or admitted to acts constituting a violation of federal or state laws related to:
- Hunting, trapping, or fishing without a required valid license or permit.
- Illegal hunting or fishing, including violations of season, bag limit, method, location, or protected species rules.
- Applies regardless of whether the offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under federal, state, tribal, or local law.
- Adds a new subparagraph (G) to Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, making any alien convicted of a violation described in the new inadmissibility provision deportable.
- The short title of the bill is the "Deporting Illegal Poachers Act."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the list of criminal grounds for inadmissibility under Section 212(a)(2) by including specific wildlife-related offenses.
- Expands the list of criminal grounds for deportability under Section 237(a)(2) to mirror the new inadmissibility category.
- Introduces these grounds without regard to the severity classification of the underlying offense.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Requires immigration authorities to consider hunting and fishing violations during admissibility screenings and removal proceedings.
- On citizens: No direct changes to U.S. citizen rights or obligations.
- On international relations: May affect noncitizens seeking entry or facing removal based on these violations, potentially influencing bilateral cooperation on wildlife enforcement.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Noncitizens who have violated applicable hunting, trapping, or fishing laws.
- Federal agencies responsible for immigration enforcement, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- State and federal wildlife enforcement agencies whose violation records may now trigger immigration consequences.
- Individuals and entities involved in hunting, fishing, or related permitting processes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Extends immigration consequences to a broader range of offenses that may previously have been treated as minor or non-criminal under immigration law.
- Applies the new grounds retroactively to existing convictions or admissions.
- Raises questions about the interaction between state wildlife laws and federal immigration authority, though the bill does not alter existing constitutional frameworks for immigration control.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Deporting Illegal Poachers Act — issued 2026-05-15 — PDF (3 pages)