...
...
Next Story

Trump announces ‘Dalilah Law’ to ban immigrants from getting commercial driver licenses

Speaking during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, the US President stated that no immigrant will be allowed to get a licenses to drive trucks.

Updated on: Feb 25, 2026, 09:29:59 IST
Advertisement

President Donald Trump has announced the ‘Dalilah Law', which would halt the issuance of commercial driver licenses to “illegal aliens.” Speaking during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, the US President stated that no immigrant will be allowed to get a licenses to drive trucks and other cargo vehicles.

The President's action comes after a series of Indian origin and Indian drivers were accused of taking wrong turns on highways, causing fatal accidents. (AP/AFP)
The President's action comes after a series of Indian origin and Indian drivers were accused of taking wrong turns on highways, causing fatal accidents. (AP/AFP)

The President's action comes after a series of Indian origin and Indian drivers were accused of taking wrong turns on highways, causing fatal accidents.

Also Read | Trump credits Charlie Kirk for ‘tremendous renewal’ in faith, religion in US

During his speech, POTUS highlighted the case of five-year-old Dalilah from Bakersfield who was injured after a multi-car pileup was caused by Partap Singh—an illegal immigrant from India. As per her father, the accident left the child nonverbal and relearning how to walk.

In the past few years, there have been several instances where Indians, who entered the US illegally, have been involved in dangerous and fatal highway crashes while driving trucks.

32-year-old Rajinder Kumar was charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment after William Micah Carter, 25 and Jennifer Lynn Lower, 24, were killed when their vehicle crashed into his semi-truck in Oregon.

In August 2025, ICE lodged an arrest detainer for Harjinder Singh following his arrest for three counts of vehicular homicide while driving a semi-truck in Florida.

Following the Florida crash, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration will stop issuing US visas for truck drivers.

"Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers," Rubio wrote on X, adding that the increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads “is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers”.

In October 2025, ICE lodged an arrest detainer for Jashanpreet Singh, who killed three people in California while driving an 18-wheeler under the influence.

Following this increase in accident, US Border Patrol carried out a mass sweep and search operation in which 30 Indian nationals, living illegally in America, operating semitrucks with commercial driver’s licenses, were arrested.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danita Yadav

Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe