U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has introduced new legislation aimed at restricting access to commercial driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, citing safety concerns on U.S. roadways.
The proposal, called the Dalilah’s Law Act, is co-sponsored by several Republican senators and would create new criminal and civil penalties tied to illegal immigrants who obtain or use CDLs, as well as states that issue them.
The legislation is named after Dalilah Coleman, a young girl who was seriously injured in a 2024 crash involving a commercial truck driver who, according to lawmakers, was in the country illegally but had been issued a CDL by the state of California.
Supporters of the bill argue the incident highlights gaps in how some states verify eligibility for commercial licenses.
In a statement, Cornyn said the legislation is intended to “hold illegal alien drivers and the sanctuary states that enable them accountable” and prevent similar incidents in the future.
If passed, the Dalilah’s Law Act would implement several new requirements and penalties, including:
- Criminal penalties for undocumented individuals who use a CDL in interstate commerce
- Mandatory minimum sentences for accidents involving such drivers, depending on severity
- Additional immigration consequences, including making violators subject to deportation and ineligible for asylum
- A requirement that CDL applicants verify employment eligibility through systems like E-Verify
- Oversight authority for the U.S. Department of Transportation to review state compliance
The bill also proposes penalties for state officials who fail to verify immigration status before issuing CDLs, as well as civil liability for businesses that assist individuals in obtaining licenses unlawfully.
The legislation aligns with ongoing Republican efforts to tighten immigration enforcement and follows recent calls for federal action on border security and public safety.
Supporters argue stricter verification standards are necessary to ensure that commercial drivers operating large vehicles meet federal requirements.
Critics of similar proposals in the past have argued that existing federal and state regulations already govern CDL issuance and that additional restrictions could complicate workforce needs in industries like trucking.
The bill has been introduced in the Senate and would need to pass both chambers of Congress before becoming law. Its prospects remain uncertain in a divided political environment, where immigration policy continues to be a contentious issue.
