WASHINGTON, D.C. — A group of Republican senators introduced the Dalilah’s Law Act on March 26, 2026, a sweeping piece of legislation that would create new criminal penalties, mandatory minimums, immigration consequences, and even a death penalty aggravating factor for illegal immigrants who use commercial driver’s licenses to operate trucks on U.S. roads.
U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the bill in response to President Trump’s State of the Union Address, during which he called on Congress to prevent crashes caused by unqualified CDL drivers.
The bill takes its name from Dalilah Coleman, a child injured in a 2024 crash involving Partap Singh, an Indian national issued a CDL by California. Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) introduced similar legislation in the House earlier this month.
What the Bill Would Do
The Dalilah’s Law Act would:
• Create a new criminal penalty for illegal immigrants using or presenting a CDL in interstate commerce
• Institute mandatory minimums for accidents caused by illegal immigrants using a CDL, based on severity
• Create a new death penalty aggravating factor when an illegal immigrant using a CDL kills another person in a motor vehicle accident
• Make any illegal immigrant convicted of using a CDL an aggravated felon, triggering mandatory detention, deportability, and ineligibility for asylum
• Require CDL applicants to provide written documentation confirming employment eligibility through E-Verify or a state-equivalent program
• Authorize DOT to request and review state documentation confirming CDL applicant eligibility
• Create a new criminal offense for state officials who direct others not to use E-Verify before issuing a CDL
• Create new civil penalties for any business that helps an illegal immigrant acquire a CDL
• Create individual causes of action for people injured by an illegal immigrant using a CDL
• Require the U.S. Attorney General to report within 180 days on accidents caused by illegal immigrants using CDLs
• Grant states the ability to sue other states that violate the new E-Verify requirement
• Allow the U.S. Attorney General to sue states that do not require E-Verify before issuing CDLs
What Senators Are Saying
“It is reprehensible that innocent Americans like Dalilah Coleman continue to pay the price for Democrats’ open-border policies, which have led to illegal aliens — who cannot speak English or read our road signs — dangerously operating massive commercial vehicles on our roadways,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Our bill would build on President Trump’s State of the Union remarks honoring Dalilah to put an end to this pull factor and hold illegal alien drivers and the sanctuary states that enable them accountable.”
“A five-year-old little girl is now living with significant injuries because an illegal alien recklessly drove an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle after being issued a CDL by the state of California. This cannot happen again,” said Sen. Budd. “I am proud to join Senator Cornyn in introducing the Dalilah’s Law Act to ensure that no state bypasses necessary driver vetting requirements when an illegal alien attempts to obtain a CDL.”
“Commercial drivers carry an enormous responsibility, and there must be clear, consistent standards for those allowed behind the wheel,” said Sen. Capito. “Sen. Cornyn’s effort closes dangerous loopholes and reinforces the principle that the rule of law and public safety must always come first.”
“Every American who shares a road with an 80,000-pound commercial truck deserves to know that driver earned that license legally,” said Sen. Lummis. “Handing CDLs to people who have no legal right to be in this country is a betrayal of the public trust.”
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
