S.3917 - Dalilah’s Act
S.3917 - Dalilah’s Act
Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the Dalilah Law. This legislation would require states to take specific measures to get illegal alien truck drivers off America’s roads to receive federal Department of Transportation funding.
At the State of the Union, President Trump called on Congress to pass legislation called “the Dalilah Law” barring any state from granting commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.
Senator Jim Banks: “Too many people have been hurt. Too many have been killed. Americans are paying the price because illegal drivers are being handed commercial driver’s licenses like candy and put behind the wheel of 80,000-pound trucks. That stops now. The Dalilah Law makes it clear: if you are here illegally, you do not get a CDL. We need to act and we need to act now.”
Key Provisions of the Dalilah Law:
The Dalilah Law would require states to take the following action items as a condition of Department of Transportation funding:
- Limiting trucking licenses to United States citizens, lawful permanent residents, and certain work visa holders only.
- Revoking all trucking licenses currently issued to illegal aliens and aliens with temporary status, whether or not such persons have work authorization.
- Offering CDL knowledge and skill tests in English only.
Supporters of Dalilah’s Act contend that it would improve road safety and uphold federal immigration law by ensuring that only individuals who are legally present and properly vetted can hold commercial driver’s licenses. President Trump and administration officials argue that undocumented drivers may lack basic English proficiency needed to read road signs and respond to traffic conditions, which they say increases safety risks on highways, especially when operating heavy commercial vehicles like semitrucks. The proposal is framed as honoring vulnerable victims—such as Dalilah Coleman, a young girl severely injured in a crash involving an undocumented truck driver—by preventing similar tragedies in the future. Proponents also assert that a uniform federal standard would close loopholes in state licensing that currently allow undocumented immigrants or individuals whose status has lapsed to retain or obtain CDLs, potentially reducing unqualified drivers on the road.
Opponents argue that Dalilah’s Act could have unintended consequences that harm rather than help public safety and the economy. Restricting access to CDLs for undocumented immigrants may discourage these drivers from obtaining training and legal licensing, leading more people to drive without any official credentials or safety oversight. Opponents also point out that data show immigrant CDL holders account for a small fraction of fatal truck crashes, suggesting the issue may be overstated relative to broader safety problems on the roads. Additionally, the policy could exacerbate labor shortages in the trucking industry, which relies heavily on immigrant drivers, and undermine state authority over licensing decisions. Some civil liberties advocates further argue that tying immigration status to licensing eligibility could unfairly penalize individuals who have otherwise met safety and training requirements, potentially raising legal and ethical concerns.
Do you think Congress should pass CDL Driver’s License Restrictions (Dalilah’s Act)?
