Trump Proposes 'Dalilah Law' to Ban Undocumented Immigrants from Obtaining Commercial Driver's Licenses

The administration's safety and enforcement measures could affect thousands of truck drivers and force the closure of over 550 trucking schools.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Trump administration is pushing for the 'Dalilah Law' to be passed by Congress, which would prohibit states from issuing commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to undocumented immigrants. This proposal follows the president's comments in his 2026 State of the Union address about a fatal crash involving a truck driver who was later taken into immigration custody. The administration claims the move is aimed at improving highway safety, but critics argue the data does not support a link between noncitizen CDL holders and a disproportionate number of crashes.

Why it matters

The proposed measures could have a significant impact on the trucking industry, potentially affecting at least 194,000 licensed truck drivers and forcing the closure of more than 550 trucking schools deemed unqualified by federal inspectors. This could reshape the workforce of about 3.5 million licensed commercial drivers nationwide, from bus drivers to long-haul truck operators.

The details

The administration is pushing for the 'Dalilah Law' to be passed by Congress, which would prohibit states from issuing commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to undocumented immigrants. This follows Trump's comments in his 2026 State of the Union address about a fatal crash involving a truck driver who was later taken into immigration custody. Federal officials claim some states have improperly issued or failed to revoke CDLs, and are warning states to stop issuing licenses to unvetted foreign nationals, except for Canadian and Mexican drivers who regularly cross the border under established cross-border delivery programs. The Department of Transportation is also pushing states to enforce existing English-proficiency requirements for CDL holders as part of a broader strategy to raise safety standards.

  • In his 2026 State of the Union address on February 24, President Trump spoke about the case of Dalilah Coleman, a 5-year-old who suffered catastrophic injuries in a 2024 California crash involving a truck driver, who was later taken into immigration custody.
  • Last summer, federal officials temporarily halted certain non-domiciled CDL issuances due to concerns that some drivers were exploiting licensing loopholes to obtain CDLs without verified background checks from their home countries.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who is proposing the 'Dalilah Law' to ban undocumented immigrants from obtaining commercial driver's licenses.

Dalilah Coleman

A 5-year-old girl who suffered catastrophic injuries in a 2024 California crash involving a truck driver who was later taken into immigration custody.

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Transportation Secretary who stated that 'For far too long, America has allowed dangerous foreign drivers to abuse our truck licensing systems—wreaking havoc on our roadways. This safety loophole ends today.'

Gurman Singh

An India-born truck driver who received a revocation notice in November, stating 'My life, my livelihood, everything, depends on CDL. How can I feed my family if I lost my CDL?'

Dave Laut

The president of the Bakersfield Trucking Association who said 'Your skin color cannot tell you how safe you are or unsafe you are.'

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For far too long, America has allowed dangerous foreign drivers to abuse our truck licensing systems—wreaking havoc on our roadways. This safety loophole ends today.”

— Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary (USA Today)

“My life, my livelihood, everything, depends on CDL. How can I feed my family if I lost my CDL?”

— Gurman Singh, India-born truck driver (BakersfieldNow Eyewitness News)

“Your skin color cannot tell you how safe you are or unsafe you are.”

— Dave Laut, President of the Bakersfield Trucking Association (USA Today)

What’s next

The administration's proposed 'Dalilah Law' would require congressional approval, while federal regulators are continuing enforcement actions on English-language proficiency, trucking school closures, and license-eligibility reviews that could limit new CDLs for certain foreign-born drivers.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's push to ban undocumented immigrants from obtaining commercial driver's licenses has sparked concerns about the potential impact on the trucking industry and workforce, with critics arguing the data does not support a clear link between noncitizen CDL holders and highway safety issues. The debate highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration policies and their intersection with economic and public safety considerations.