President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass the “Dalilah Law,” which would ban the issuance of CDLs to undocumented immigrants. (Al Drago/Bloomberg)
February 25, 2026 3:46 PM, EST
Key Takeaways:
- President Donald Trump called on Congress to bar states from issuing commercial driver licenses to undocumented immigrants, framing the proposal as the “Dalilah law.”
- Supporters, including Rep. Sam Graves and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, argued stricter English-language requirements and CDL standards would improve road safety amid about 40,000 annual highway deaths.
- The proposal is expected to factor into upcoming multiyear highway legislation as federal agencies pursue tighter CDL rules in the wake of a 2024 crash that injured Dalilah Coleman.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s push for stricter English‑language requirements for commercial driver license holders drew backing Feb. 25 from House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, who called the proposal a “common sense” safety measure.
During what became the longest televised State of the Union on Feb. 24, Trump proposed a measure seeking to ban “illegal aliens” from obtaining CDLs. Pointing to Dalilah Coleman in the chamber, who had been injured in a crash in California that involved a commercial vehicle, the president told lawmakers: “Many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs as to direction, speed, danger or location.”
“That’s why tonight,” Trump continued, “I’m calling on Congress to pass what we will call the ‘Dalilah Law’ — barring any state from granting commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.”
The chamber’s top transportation policymaker touted Trump’s State of the Union pitch designed to further ensure the nation’s CDL holders comprehend and communicate in English when they’re on the job.
Our nation is getting stronger by the day, thanks to President Trump’s leadership. Working with President Trump, we’ve been able to secure the border, curbed inflation and cut taxes for working families. We’ve also unleashed American energy sources and rebuilt our military into…
— Rep. Sam Graves (@RepSamGraves) February 25, 2026
Enacting such guidance, Graves explained, would “increase safety on our roads” at a time when federal data determined about 40,000 highway-related fatalities nationwide have been reported in recent years.
He also reflected on the second Trump administration’s record. The president’s transportation agenda, he said, “has prioritized the modernization of our air traffic control system to enhance the safety and reliability of America’s aviation system.”
“We are supporting economic growth and American energy independence, which were stifled under the previous administration,” says House T&I Chairman Sam Graves. (Al Drago/Bloomberg)
“Through important permitting reforms,” Graves added, “we are supporting economic growth and American energy independence, which were stifled under the previous administration.”
The congressional transportation leader signaled the likelihood for White House policy proposals to find a place in upcoming multiyear highway legislation. The new so-called highway bill is up for consideration before the fall.
The president’s legislative proposal aligns with his administration’s directives for the trucking industry. Since the start of Trump’s second term, the Department of Transportation has sought to strengthen English-language requirements for commercial drivers as well as amplify requirements for acquiring a CDL around the country.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed calls for Congress to approve rigorous CDL standards specific to undocumented immigrants.
“Our great president has made our country safe again after four years of the [President Joe] Biden border crisis that allowed tens of millions of illegals to pour into our country and terrorize our communities,” Duffy said soon after the president’s remarks. “Thanks to his leadership, we’re cracking down on dangerous foreigner drivers operating trucks, enforcing English-language requirements for immigrant big rig drivers, and we’re rolling out new rules to eliminate fraud in trucking.”
According to a September 2025 report prepared by the Department of Homeland Security, on June 20, 2024, an undocumented driver from India — Partap Singh — was found to have caused a multicar pileup while operating a commercial truck. The undocumented immigrant, subsequently arrested, obtained a CDL in California. Dalilah Coleman, who was 5 at the time, was injured in the highway crash.
PASS THE DALILAH LAW.
Dalilah Coleman was only 5 when she suffered life changing injuries caused by an illegal alien driving an 18-wheeler.
What happened to Dalilah is a tragedy that could have been PREVENTED if California did not grant commercial driver’s licenses to illegal… https://t.co/DvdozYfDLb
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) February 25, 2026
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in September the crash that injured the girl “was entirely preventable,” arguing that “Dalilah Coleman’s life was forever changed when an illegal alien driving an 18‑wheeler slammed into her and her family.” She framed the incident as another instance of California issuing “an illegal alien a commercial driver’s license.”
Noem pressed the point, asking, “How many more innocent people must become victims before [Gov.] Gavin Newsom stops playing games with American lives?” and said DHS is working “around the clock to remove dangerous aliens — like Singh — who have no right to be in the U.S.”
