Republicans Push for Legislation Following Trump’s State of the Union Demand

Senate Republicans are taking steps to advance a significant proposal from President Donald Trump’s recent State of the Union address, although they’re not holding their breath for support from Senate Democrats.

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) expressed to Fox News Digital that he believes “Democrats haven’t been acting rationally lately.” He suggested that they tend to oppose anything that would align with Trump’s views simply out of reflex.

Cornyn intends to introduce a bill that would prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), which aligns with a request Trump made in his speech on Tuesday night. However, the response from Democrats has been minimal thus far.

The legislation, referred to as “Dalila’s Law,” is named after Dalila Coleman, a girl who suffered serious injuries in a crash involving an illegal immigrant driving a tractor-trailer in California back in 2024.

During his State of the Union address, Trump brought attention to the incident, stating that many illegal aliens may not even understand basic road signs.

“Tonight, I’m urging Congress to pass something called Dalila’s Law, which would bar states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants,” he stated.

Cornyn noted that, typically, such a bill wouldn’t stir controversy. However, he added a comment reflecting his skepticism about bipartisan support, saying, “But as the president remarked, ‘Those people are crazy.’” This skepticism stems partly from the fact that the bill mainly impacts blue states, like California, where the licensing rules have come under scrutiny from the Trump administration.

Cornyn’s proposal includes requiring states to verify applicants through E-Verify before they can be issued a CDL. It also imposes penalties on states that fail to comply, which could involve disqualification from certain federal transportation grants. Additionally, illegal immigrants who use CDLs for interstate travel would face federal felony charges.

The senator emphasized that his bill builds upon Trump’s broader immigration policies, aiming to diminish what he perceives as incentives for illegal immigration.

He mentioned that U.S. Border Patrol often assesses immigration through “push and pull” factors, referring to the motivations driving individuals to leave their home countries. Cornyn acknowledged that people frequently leave their homes in search of better opportunities.

“We all understand that,” he concluded. “But they’re discussing factors that increase the chances of illegal immigration, and this legislation may address just that.”