During his State of the Union speech on Feb. 24, President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass legislation to prevent states from granting commercial driver’s licenses to people in the United States illegally. 

He dubbed his proposal “Dalilah Law” and shared the story behind the title. 

“Dalilah Coleman was only 5 years old in June 2024 when an 18-wheel tractor-trailer plowed into her stopped car traveling at 60 miles an hour or more, Trump said. “The driver was an illegal alien let in by Joe Biden and given a commercial driver’s license by open borders, politicians and California. Doctors said Dalilah would never be able to walk or talk, have a good life.”

“She wouldn’t even be able to eat again. But against all odds, she is now in the first grade, learning to walk, and she is here this evening with her dad, Marcus, a fantastic man.” 

After acknowledging the two in the gallery, Trump continued: “Many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs as to direction, speed, danger, or location.”

Following the speech, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said that “it’s commonsense that truck drivers and people operating with CDLs in the U.S. should be able to read English and understand our laws, road signs, and law enforcement officers.

Graves added: “I look forward to working with the President on our shared priorities, including the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill, the most significant of its kind since the creation of the federal highway system.”