Washington, March 31 (NationPress) A coalition of Republican senators has proposed new legislation designed to stop undocumented immigrants from acquiring or utilizing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The bill outlines severe penalties for both the drivers and the states that issue these licenses.

Titled the Dalilah’s Law Act, this legislation was introduced by Senators Shelley Moore Capito, John Cornyn, Ted Budd, Cynthia Lummis, and Tommy Tuberville. The aim is to enhance federal scrutiny and enforce both criminal and civil penalties associated with CDL issuance and usage by illegal immigrants.

“The Dalilah’s Law Act focuses on safeguarding American families and ensuring the safety of all highway users. I commend Sen. Cornyn for his dedication to this critical issue,” stated Capito. “Commercial drivers hold significant responsibility, and clear, uniform standards must be established for those permitted to drive.”

She further emphasized that this legislation will “eliminate hazardous loopholes and reinforce the concept that adherence to the law and public safety should always take precedence.”

Cornyn characterized the bill as a measure responding to what he termed as the failures at the border. “It is intolerable that innocent Americans, like Dalilah Coleman, suffer due to the Democrats' open-border policies,” he asserted, claiming that undocumented drivers are “recklessly operating large commercial vehicles on our roads.”

“Our bill aims to build upon President Trump’s remarks during the State of the Union address by ending this pull factor and holding illegal alien drivers and the sanctuary states that support them accountable,” Cornyn elaborated.

This legislation proposes several measures, including new criminal penalties for undocumented individuals engaging in interstate commerce with CDLs, as well as mandatory minimum sentences for accidents involving these drivers. It also introduces a potential aggravating factor for the death penalty if an individual is killed in a crash involving an undocumented CDL holder.

Among other provisions, the bill would impose immigration consequences, categorizing violators as aggravated felons, which would trigger mandatory detention and deportation. Additionally, it seeks to mandate that CDL applicants provide documentation verifying employment eligibility through E-Verify or similar systems.

States would be obligated to keep verification records and submit them to the Department of Transportation upon request. The legislation also suggests criminal penalties for state officials who neglect to verify immigration status prior to issuing CDLs.

Senator Budd pointed to a recent incident in California as a catalyst for the bill. “A five-year-old girl is now suffering from severe injuries because an illegal alien recklessly operated an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle after being granted a CDL by the state of California,” he remarked. “This cannot occur again.”

Lummis highlighted the importance of public safety concerns. “Every American sharing a road with an 80,000-pound commercial truck deserves assurance that the driver obtained their license lawfully,” she stated, adding that issuing licenses to undocumented individuals represents “a breach of public trust.”