Jim Banks Proposes ‘Dalilah Law’ to Prevent States from Granting Trucking Licenses to Unauthorized Immigrants

Dalila’s Act Proposal

Senator Jim Banks from Indiana is putting forward Dalila’s Act, named in honor of six-year-old Dalila Coleman. This proposed legislation aims to prevent states from granting commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to individuals who are undocumented immigrants.

Banks unveiled the bill on Wednesday, garnering support from President Donald Trump, who mentioned Dalila during his recent State of the Union address.

According to reports, in June 2024, a truck driver who was in the U.S. illegally caused a serious accident involving Dalila’s vehicle. She suffered significant injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and developed cerebral palsy.

A fundraising campaign on GoFundMe for Dalila’s recovery has already collected around $150,000.

The truck driver had entered the U.S. in 2022 and was initially released into the interior by the Biden administration. Subsequently, he obtained a CDL to operate a semi-truck while in California, a sanctuary state.

“Too many people were injured and too many people were killed,” stated Banks.

“Americans are facing consequences as illegal drivers receive commercial licenses too easily and are put behind the wheel of large trucks,” he continued. “That practice ends here. Dalila’s law clearly states that you cannot obtain a CDL if you are in the country illegally. We have to take action, and we must do so now.”

This legislation would restrict CDLs to U.S. citizens, green card holders, and selected foreign visa workers. Additionally, the exam for obtaining a CDL would only be given in English.

Moreover, the bill aims to revoke all trucking permits issued to undocumented immigrants and those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), regardless of whether they have a work permit.

In his State of the Union speech, President Trump emphasized, “Many illegal aliens cannot speak English and are unable to understand basic road signs: direction, speed, danger, location. That’s why I am urging Congress to pass Dalila’s Law, which would prohibit any state from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.”