Trump pushes ‘Dalilah Law’ to ban driver licenses for illegal immigrants — Who is Dalilah Coleman

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (February 24) called on lawmakers to pass what he termed the “Dalilah Law”, legislation aimed at preventing undocumented immigrants from obtaining commercial driver’s licences in the United States.Speaking during his State of the Union address, Trump said the proposed law was named after Dalilah Coleman, a first grader who was severely injured in a crash involving a semi-truck driven by an undocumented immigrant from India.

“Many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even the most basic road signs,” Trump said in his State of the Union address.
“That’s why tonight I’m calling on Congress to pass what we will call the Dalilah law, barring any state from granting commercial driver’s licences to illegal aliens.”Who is Dalilah Coleman

According to the White House, Dalilah Coleman suffered a traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy after a 2024 accident involving an 18-wheeler. She will require lifelong care and therapy.

The family vehicle she was travelling in was struck by a semi-truck driven by Partap Singh, who authorities have described as an undocumented immigrant from India. Coleman was left nonverbal following the crash and is relearning how to walk, according to a report by the New York Post.

Details of the case

Singh had allegedly entered the US through the southern border in October 2022 and was released into the country under the administration of former President Joe Biden. Despite his immigration status, he was issued a commercial driver’s licence by a state authority.

He was later re-arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in August 2025 and is facing deportation proceedings under the Trump administration.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the crash occurred when Singh was speeding through a construction zone and failed to stop for traffic.