At 5 years old, Dalilah Coleman suffered life-altering injuries ath the hands of a reckless illegal immigrant truck driver.
The illegal immigrant driver’s 18-wheeler blew a stop sign, crashed into the Coleman family’s car, and left Dalilah, now 7 years old, with permanent brain damage.
Tragic stories like Dalilah’s have become an all too common occurrence, and it’s kicked Republicans in Washington, D.C. into high gear to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining Commercial Driver’s Licenses, or CDLs. Legislation that could have prevented the crash that hurt Dalilah was voted out of committee on Wednesday and is expected to head to the House floor for a vote very soon.
“We cannot afford to lower that standard [to obtain a commercial driver’s license], especially when the consequences are measured in lives,” said Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., at a Republican Study Committee roundtable highlighting Republican legislation that would crack down on illegal immigrants with CDLs.
Houchin noted that in the past five months, seven people in her home state of Indiana have lost their lives from crashes involving illegal immigrants.
The legislation, named Dalilah’s Law, works to prevent CDLs from falling in the hands of illegal immigrants by requiring applicants be a U.S. citizen and a live in the state in which they are applying.
The bill also incorporates language from Rep. David Taylor, R-Ohio, and requires CDL holders are proficient in English.
Previously known as the Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act, the bill was introduced in October by Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C.
Rouzer is a senior member on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and worked on the bill in coordination with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and other department personnel.
Rouzer told the Daily Signal that the Department of Transportation is already working with states to revoke illegal immigrant CDLs, but this legislation will codify the administration’s efforts as federal law.
President Donald Trump recognized Dalilah during his State of the Union address earlier this month for her courage and joy in the face of serious hardship and to encourage congressional action.
Because of the accident, Dalilah is non-verbal, had to re-learn how to walk, and has now been diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy.
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Republican Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Andy Barr, R-Ky, and Houchin have all introduced Dalilah’s Law legislation.
“The goal is straight forward, if you’re in this country illegally, you should not be able to obtain a commercial driver’s license, and if that standard is violated, there should be serious consequences, including permanent disqualification from operating a commercial vehicle,” said Houchin.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., got emotional at the Thursday RSC event. Looking at Dalilah sitting and laughing with her father, Burchett said she reminded him of his own daughter. “It’s very personal to me that we as a country can not come together on this issue,” Burchett said.
Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif., also said the issue was “very personal.”
“The Colemans are from my community, they are constituents of mine,” Fong said. “Dalilah, when you meet her, how can you not be inspired by what she’s gone though, and how she’s overcome.”
The 2024 crash that injured Dalilah occurred in Rep. Jay Obernolte’s, R-Calif., district.
“It boggles my mind that next week, this bill will have opposition,” Obernolte said. “It is just common sense.”
“They seem to be more interested in representing those that don’t speak English than those that do speak English,” Rouzer told reporters of the expected Democrat opposition.
“Quite candidly, I think it’s just a reflection of how far off the deep end the Democratic party has gone,” he continued.
“There’s no Republican or Democrat roads, just U.S. roads,” said Dalilah’s father, Marcus Coleman, who is a truck driver himself. He told reporters his hope is for everyone to “get together with their counterparts on the Democrat side and try to persuade.”
