Trump calls on Congress to clear ‘Dalilah Law’ to curb illegal aliens. What is it?

Trump’s Dalilah Law: US President Donald Trump proposed a ‘Dalilah Law’ as another roadblock for illegal aliens in the United States. He said the “Dalilah Law” is aimed at preventing states from issuing commercial driving licences to “illegal aliens.” ## What Trump said Trump during his State of The Union address said: “Many of the illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs as to direction, speed, danger, or location. That’s why I am calling on the Congress to pass the Dalilah Law.” > .@POTUS: Many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs…That’s why tonight, I’m calling on Congress to pass what we will call the ‘Dalilah Law’—barring any state from granting Commercial Drivers Licenses to illegal aliens. pic.twitter.com/tzqiDxmVGp — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2026 .@POTUS: Many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs…That’s why tonight, I’m calling on Congress to pass what we will call the ‘Dalilah Law’—barring any state from granting Commercial Drivers Licenses to illegal aliens. pic.twitter.com/tzqiDxmVGp — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2026 ALSO READ | Trump in SOTU address says all countries fear ‘far worse’ tariff terms, want existing deals to continue with US ## What is the Dalilah Law? The Dalilah Law is named after a 1st-grade student Dalilah Coleman, who was severely injured in an accident in June. Her injuries included a traumatic brain injury, Cerebral Palsy, and she will need lifelong care and therapy, the White House said in a statement. The Dalilah Law proposes to implement a mechanism that would bar any state to issue commercial driving licences to illegal aliens. The objective of the law is to increase public safety by ensuring that only legal residents and citizens are granted official identification and driving rights. Curbing the issuance of CDLs would also discourage illegal aliens to enter the US for employment opportunities in many sectors, such as logistics. ## How did the Dalilah accident occur? Dalilah, a resident of Bakersfield in California, was injured in a car vehicle pile-up caused by a semitruck allegedly being driven by an illegal alien from India, Partap Singh. He was driving with a Commercial Driver’s Licence, issued by the the California state administration under Governor Gavin Newsom. Singh allegedly “crossed the border in 2022 and was released into the country by the Biden administration, as per the US Homeland Security. The crash sent several people to hospital, including Michael Krause and his five-year-old stepdaughter, Dalilah Coleman, who was airlifted in critical condition. The California Highway Patrol said in its traffic collision report that the truck was travelling at an unsafe speed and failed to slow down for traffic and a marked construction area. Dalilah’s father has said the impact permanently changed his daughter’s life for the worse. She was in a coma for three weeks and remained hospitalised for six months before returning home. During her treatment, she underwent a craniectomy and lived without half of her skull for four months, as per the US Department of Homeland Security. The child suffered a broken femur and multiple skull fractures. She has since been diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy and global developmental delay, conditions that will require lifelong therapy. Her father said she is now unable to walk, speak, eat orally or begin kindergarten as originally planned. Abhishek Chakraborty is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express in Delhi, working at the intersection of digital-first journalism, editorial decision-making, and audience engagement. He is closely involved in shaping and commissioning stories for the digital platform, with a focus on breaking news, explanatory journalism, and sharp, reader-oriented presentation. His work spans editorial planning, real-time news judgment, headline optimisation, and platform strategy, including search and social distribution. He has a strong interest in the evolution of news consumption in the digital ecosystem. He is particularly interested in how national newsrooms adapt to platform-led distribution models, data-informed editorial choices, and the balance between speed, depth, and credibility in digital-first journalism. His core interest areas are business, science, and political news. Education and interest areas: Abhishek holds a postgraduate degree in Political Science and a graduate degree in Journalism. His academic grounding informs his reportage and editing, particularly on politics, governance, and public policy. He is interested in the future of digital journalism, newsroom transformation, and the evolving relationship between technology, platforms, and public discourse. Abhishek hails from Assam's Guwahati and is proficient in English, Bengali, Assamese and Hindi. When not in the newsroom, Abhishek can be found exploring food trails around Delhi and Northeast India. In his leisure, Abhishek likes to go on long drives or bike rides, play cricket and games, and explore historical places. Work experience: Abhishek has over 11 years of experience at The Times of India, The Quint, India Today, ABP Network, and now, at The Indian Express. ... Read More