The "Dalilah's Law Act" aims to prevent certain aliens, including those unlawfully present, inadmissible, or paroled, from operating commercial vehicles in interstate or foreign commerce using a commercial driver's license (CDL). It establishes a new federal crime for such actions, carrying penalties of up to five years imprisonment. More severe penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences, are imposed if a violation leads to a motor vehicle accident, with the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment if a fatality occurs. The legislation also targets state and local government officials, making it unlawful for them to intentionally issue CDLs without first verifying an applicant's immigration status through the E-Verify Program or a similar state system. Violations by officials can result in fines or imprisonment for up to one year. Furthermore, businesses or entities that knowingly provide substantial assistance to covered aliens in violating this prohibition face significant civil penalties of $50,000 per violation. To enhance enforcement, the bill allows individuals injured by a covered alien operating a commercial vehicle with a CDL to pursue civil actions for treble damages against the alien and those who aided them. It also designates offenses related to CDL use by covered aliens as an aggravated felony and a ground for inadmissibility to the United States. Finally, the bill amends federal transportation law to require states to verify the employment eligibility of all CDL applicants using E-Verify or an analogous process, granting both the Attorney General and state attorneys general enforcement powers over these state requirements.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Immigration
Dalilah’s Law Act
USA119th CongressS-4224| Senate
| Updated: 3/26/2026
The "Dalilah's Law Act" aims to prevent certain aliens, including those unlawfully present, inadmissible, or paroled, from operating commercial vehicles in interstate or foreign commerce using a commercial driver's license (CDL). It establishes a new federal crime for such actions, carrying penalties of up to five years imprisonment. More severe penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences, are imposed if a violation leads to a motor vehicle accident, with the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment if a fatality occurs. The legislation also targets state and local government officials, making it unlawful for them to intentionally issue CDLs without first verifying an applicant's immigration status through the E-Verify Program or a similar state system. Violations by officials can result in fines or imprisonment for up to one year. Furthermore, businesses or entities that knowingly provide substantial assistance to covered aliens in violating this prohibition face significant civil penalties of $50,000 per violation. To enhance enforcement, the bill allows individuals injured by a covered alien operating a commercial vehicle with a CDL to pursue civil actions for treble damages against the alien and those who aided them. It also designates offenses related to CDL use by covered aliens as an aggravated felony and a ground for inadmissibility to the United States. Finally, the bill amends federal transportation law to require states to verify the employment eligibility of all CDL applicants using E-Verify or an analogous process, granting both the Attorney General and state attorneys general enforcement powers over these state requirements.