Bald eagles have long been a treasured American symbol, appearing on everything from the presidential seal to the dollar bill.

Yet while the animal is protected under federal law, authorities weren't too concerned last month when illegal immigrants in Nebraska allegedly shot one.  

Migrants said they planned to eat the eagle

According to The Washington Free Beacon, Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says that two suspected Honduran nationals were arrested on February 28 at the Wood Duck State Wildlife Management area.

The pair were discovered in possession along with an "assault-style" air rifle. The men told officers that they killed the bird and intended to eat it for dinner.

"I’m trying to be as politically correct as possible when I say this but I don’t know what kind of third-world life they’re coming from, but it must have been pretty bad," Unger told the Free Beacon, adding that a photo of the bird is "very graphic" and "contains lots of blood."

The suspects were hit with misdemeanor charges under state law but cannot be held in jail prior to their March 28 court date.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has prosecuted Americans for killing bald eagles

What's more, Unger complained that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has ignored his repeated attempts to contact them.

"I’m very frustrated with the federal government," Unger went on to complain. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also refused the Free Beacon's request for comment.

Interestingly, the newspaper pointed out that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not hesitated to go after American citizens for killing bald eagles.

Cleveland's News 5 reported last year that a  79-year-old Ohio man reached a plea agreement under which he was required to pay a $10,000 fine along with another $10,000 in retribution. He also lost his firearm and agreed to a five-year hunting ban.

Convicted sex offenders turning up along border

Bald eagles aren't the only ones being put at risk by America's ongoing migrant crisis, as Fox News reported in February that three child sex predators were apprehended within two days along just one section of the border.

The first was a Salvadoran man who was found guilty of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a Utah minor 15 years ago.

Border Patrol officials then caught another Salvadoran national the following day along with a Mexican man, both of whom had previous convictions for sex crimes involving minors.

Fox News noted that Border Patrol estimates there have been more than 1.2 million gotaways since President Joe Biden took office. The term "gotaway" refers to an individual who Border Patrol agents attempted to apprehend but was able to evade capture.