Dive Brief:
- The Senate’s proposed Dalilah Law Act would create criminal and civil penalties for immigrants living in the country illegally who try to obtain or use a commercial driver’s license, according to a press release from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.
- The bill was introduced by Cornyn, alongside four other senators, March 26 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The House is expected to vote on its version of the bill in the coming weeks.
- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, one of the Senate bill’s co-sponsors, said the legislation is about protecting American families, adding that “commercial drivers carry an enormous responsibility, and there must be clear, consistent standards for those allowed behind the wheel.”
Dive Insight:
Cornyn’s bill is the Senate’s response to President Donald Trump’s call for legislative action made during his Feb. 24 State of the Union address. The president pointed to the need to address safety concerns, including English language proficiency for truck drivers.
The proposed Senate bill outlines requirements for CDL applicants including providing written documentation certifying successful employment eligibility through the government’s E-Verify system or established state-verification process.
The bill also creates consequences for individuals living in the country illegally found to be using a CDL. Those individuals would be viewed as an aggravated felon, placed in detention, deported and ineligible for asylum, per the release.
Further, the bill calls for establishing a death penalty if an immigrant without proper documentation and using a CDL is found responsible for someone’s death in a motor vehicle crash.
Congress’ version of the Dalilah Law legislation introduced on March 16, focuses on making English language proficiency necessary to obtain a CDL. It also aims to improve safety and policies through ensuring CDL holders understand English, road signs and law enforcement officers.
Both the proposed bills are named for Dalilah Coleman who was injured in a traffic accident involving a tractor-trailer in California in 2024. The driver of the truck was later identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Partap Singh of India who was allegedly in the country illegally and taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
