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119-s-4224119th CongressWALLET

Dalilah’s Law Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Bars certain noncitizens from presenting or using a commercial driver's license in interstate or foreign commerce. This bill would create new federal crimes, add immigration penalties, expand civil liability, and require states to verify employment eligibility before issuing commercial driver's licenses.

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  • People defined as "covered aliens" would face criminal penalties for presenting or using a CDL in interstate or foreign commerce, including minimum prison terms tied to crashes: 1 year for a crash and 2 years for bodily injury, with possible life imprisonment or the death penalty if a crash causes death. The bill would also treat those offenses as aggravated felonies and grounds for inadmissibility.
  • Entities that knowingly help a covered alien obtain or use a CDL could be fined $50,000 per violation and face private lawsuits that allow victims to recover three times actual damages plus costs and attorney fees.
  • States and licensing agencies would have to verify applicants' employment eligibility using the E-Verify program or an equivalent process and provide written documentation to the Secretary on request. The Attorney General and state attorneys general could sue to enforce compliance, and injured states or citizens could seek injunctive relief for bodily injury or monetary losses over $100.
  • The Attorney General must report within 180 days on arrests of covered aliens for CDL violations, state-by-state licensing data, crash and prosecution numbers, and present a plan to stop violations.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.

Triple damages for victims of CDL crashes

If enacted, any person injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by a covered noncitizen using a CDL would be able to sue in federal court. If enacted, plaintiffs could recover three times their actual damages plus the cost of the case, including attorney's fees. If enacted, people or companies who knowingly helped the covered noncitizen get the CDL can also be held liable in these suits. These remedies would take effect upon enactment.

Fines for businesses aiding certain noncitizens

If enacted, this would impose a $50,000 civil penalty for each time a business or other entity knowingly helps a covered noncitizen get or use a CDL, or conspires to do so. Each separate act of substantial assistance or conspiracy counts as a separate $50,000 violation. This rule would take effect upon enactment and could create large per-violation exposure for small businesses that knowingly assist covered noncitizens.

Tighter CDL ban for certain noncitizens

If enacted, this would make it illegal for certain noncitizens to present or use a commercial driver's license (CDL) in interstate or foreign commerce. The covered group includes people listed in specific immigration-law sections and those paroled under a listed parole rule. If enacted, the bill would create criminal penalties, including fines and up to 5 years in prison for violations, plus mandatory minimums if a crash occurs (at least 1 year for a crash, 2 years if bodily injury, and life or death penalty if death results). If enacted, this would also treat these CDL offenses as aggravated felonies and a ground of inadmissibility for immigration purposes.

New CDL checks for applicants and States

If enacted, this would require CDL applicants to show written proof of work authorization from an E-Verify employer or a State verification process before getting a CDL. If enacted, State and local officials who intentionally issue a CDL without confirming status could face fines and up to 1 year in jail. If enacted, the Attorney General could sue States to stop violations, and must report to Congress within 180 days with counts of arrests, CDLs issued to covered noncitizens, accidents, prosecutions, and a plan to stop violations. If enacted, States must give the Secretary of Transportation the verification documents on request, and a State official can sue the Secretary for injunctive relief if a citizen is injured or suffers over $100 in losses.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cornyn, John [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]

    WY • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

  • Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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