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Father Of Girl Injured By Illegal Trucker Pushes For Trucking Industry Reform
Lawmakers must address 'chameleon carriers' to truly fix the trucking crisis, says Marcus Coleman.
Published on Feb. 27, 2026
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The father of a young girl severely injured in a crash caused by an illegal migrant trucker is working with lawmakers to pass 'Dalilah's Law,' which would block illegal migrants from obtaining commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). However, Marcus Coleman says real reform must also target 'chameleon carriers' - trucking companies that repeatedly change identities to avoid enforcement actions.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing issues with unqualified and illegal truck drivers on American roads, which have led to a number of deadly accidents. Addressing loopholes that allow these drivers to obtain CDLs is crucial for public safety, but industry practices like 'chameleon carriers' also need to be reformed to truly fix the trucking crisis.
The details
Dalilah, a first-grader, was critically injured in a 2024 multi-car pileup caused by Partap Singh, an Indian national who had illegally entered the U.S. and obtained a CDL from California officials. The trucking company Singh worked for had changed identities multiple times before and after the accident to avoid enforcement. Coleman is now working with lawmakers on 'Dalilah's Law,' which would restrict CDLs for illegal migrants, as well as address the issue of 'chameleon carriers' that continue to operate under new names.
- On June 20, 2024, Dalilah was involved in a multi-car pileup that left her critically injured.
- In September 2025, the Department of Transportation restricted non-domiciled CDLs and found 'catastrophic patterns' of states unlawfully issuing licenses to foreign truck drivers.
- In February 2026, the DOT implemented new rules to keep illegal migrants away from 18-wheelers.
The players
Marcus Coleman
The father of Dalilah, a young girl severely injured in a crash caused by an illegal migrant trucker. Coleman is actively working with lawmakers to pass 'Dalilah's Law' and address other issues in the trucking industry.
Partap Singh
An Indian national who illegally entered the U.S. in 2022, obtained a commercial driver's license in California, and caused the crash that critically injured Dalilah.
Dalilah
A first-grader who was severely injured in a 2024 multi-car pileup caused by an illegal migrant trucker, leaving her unable to walk, talk, eat orally or attend school as planned.
Donald Trump
The former U.S. president who unveiled 'Dalilah's Law' during his 2026 State of the Union address, a legislative proposal to block illegal migrants from obtaining commercial driver's licenses.
Jim Banks
The Indiana senator who officially introduced 'Dalilah's Law' the day after it was unveiled by President Trump.
What they’re saying
“The person that hit Dalilah was a chameleon carrier. They had, if I'm not mistaken, five or six different companies under that one truck.”
— Marcus Coleman, Dalilah's father (Daily Caller News Foundation)
“Everybody's sitting there pushing against the immigrant drivers. That is a huge spoke on this wheel, but if you get rid of the immigrant drivers and you don't deal with the brokers or the companies that are hiring these drivers, the next thing that's going to happen is it's going to change from immigrant drivers to drivers who aren't qualified to have a CDL, but are still driving.”
— Marcus Coleman, Dalilah's father (Daily Caller News Foundation)
What’s next
The judge in Partap Singh's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights the need for comprehensive reform in the trucking industry, targeting not just unqualified immigrant drivers but also the 'chameleon carrier' companies that enable unsafe practices. Passing 'Dalilah's Law' is a crucial first step, but addressing the broader issues of licensing loopholes, broker accountability, and company identity changes is necessary to truly improve highway safety.
