Trump Advocates for 'Dalilah's Law' to Restrict CDLs for Undocumented Immigrants

In his recent State of the Union address, President Trump proposed 'Dalilah's Law,' aimed at preventing undocumented immigrants from obtaining Commercial Driver's Licenses. Named after Dalilah Coleman, a young girl severely injured in a truck accident involving an undocumented driver, the proposal seeks to enhance federal regulations on licensing. The initiative is part of a broader immigration agenda that criticizes previous border policies and calls for stricter enforcement against repeat offenders. As lawmakers prepare to debate this measure, the implications for immigration policy and state licensing practices remain significant.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 25, 2026, 13:01 IST

Trump's State of the Union Address Highlights 'Dalilah's Law'

During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump urged lawmakers to support a new initiative he dubbed “Dalilah’s Law.” This proposal aims to prevent states from issuing Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) to individuals who are undocumented. The legislation is named after Dalilah Coleman, a young girl who suffered severe injuries in a truck accident involving an undocumented driver. Trump stated, “Many illegal aliens do not understand English and struggle to read basic road signs.” He emphasized the need for Congress to enact this law to prohibit states from granting CDLs to undocumented individuals.

This initiative is part of Trump’s broader immigration agenda presented during the 2026 State of the Union, which also criticized former President Joe Biden’s border policies and called for tougher criminal justice measures against repeat offenders.

Background on the Dalilah Coleman Incident

The Dalilah Coleman Case

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Partap Singh was operating an 18-wheeler in a construction zone when he allegedly failed to stop, leading to a crash that critically injured Dalilah Coleman. DHS reported that Singh entered the U.S. through the southern border in October 2022 and was subsequently released. He was re-arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in August 2025 and is currently facing deportation proceedings. Reports indicate that Dalilah spent three weeks in a coma and underwent extensive medical treatment, including a craniectomy.

The accident resulted in multiple skull fractures and a broken femur for Dalilah, who has since been diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy and global developmental delay, necessitating ongoing therapy. Now seven years old, she was present at the 2026 State of the Union, where Trump acknowledged her during his speech while introducing the proposed legislation.

Implications of Dalilah's Law

What Dalilah’s Law Would Do

Trump’s proposed legislation aims to establish federal regulations that would prevent states from issuing Commercial Driver’s Licenses to undocumented immigrants. While states typically set their own driver’s license eligibility criteria, Congress has the authority to regulate commercial licensing standards related to interstate commerce. The President also called for comprehensive reforms to ensure that “violent and dangerous repeat offenders are incarcerated and remain behind bars.” The full legislative text for Dalilah’s Law has not yet been released, and it remains uncertain whether the proposal will apply exclusively to CDLs or also to standard driver’s licenses. Currently, the proposal has not been formally introduced in Congress, but lawmakers are anticipated to discuss it amid ongoing national debates regarding immigration enforcement and state licensing policies. Dalilah’s Law is part of a series of immigration-related proposals presented during the 2026 State of the Union, as Trump seeks to enhance federal oversight of undocumented immigrants’ access to work and transportation credentials.