U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC.
| Photo Credit: AFP
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) urged the joint session of the U.S. Congress for the implementation of ‘Delilah’s Law’, which aims at restricting issuance of commercial driver license to illegal immigrants. The move is expected to negatively impact thousands of Indian-origin drivers, especially from Punjab and Haryana.
The law is named after the six-year-old Delilah Coleman, a first-grader, who suffered grievous injuries after an Indian truck driver rammed his tractor trailer into the former’s car. The mishap occurred on June 20, 2024, in Adelanto, San Bernardino County, California.
President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address, lasting approximately 2 hours, reiterated his hardened stance against illegal immigrants. He pressed the demand for a consolidated effort to bar any state from granting driver’s license to undocumented drivers. “So, tonight, I’m inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens”, Mr. Trump said.
Who is Delilah Coleman?
Delilah Coleman is a six-year old child, who suffered life-altering injuries in a multi-vehicle crash caused by an Indian truck driver. Coleman was five years old during the mishap. She was airlifted from the scene in a critical state. The mishap led Coleman to suffer a serious brain injury, skull fractures, and a broken femur. She remained in a coma for three weeks. Later, she had to undergo a craniectomy (removal of part of her skull).
According to New York Post, Coleman is grappling to walk in the aftermath of mishap. Also, the mishap left her impaired to eat food, and had her diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy.
Coleman, who attended President Trump’s State of the Union address, received applause from lawmakers, guests and attendees, for being an inspiration behind the law.
In his speech, Mr. Trump noted, “Doctors said Delilah would never be able to walk or talk, have a good life. She wouldn’t even be able to eat again. But against all odds, she is now in the first grade, learning to walk. And she’s here this evening with her dad Marcus, a fantastic man. Delilah, please, you are a great inspiration. Please stand up. Thank you, Delilah”.
Impact against Indian immigrants
The move holds significant potential behind U.S.-India bilateral ties since Donald Trump administration in the past has deported over 2,400 illegal Indian immigrants. Between January 2025 and January 2026, over 2,400 Indian nationals have been deported or repatriated.
However, the major trouble may arise with the strict English proficiency demands, as mentioned by Mr. Trump in his speech. Over 1.5 lakh Indian-origin truckers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, reportedly work in the U.S. to earn for their living.
According to the Pew Research Centre, approximately 4.8% to 5% of all undocumented immigrants in the U.S. were from India. In spite of the relatively lower percentage of illegal immigrants, India has become the third-largest source of undocumented immigrants, following only Mexico and El Salvador.
Read | How will Trump treat illegal Indians?
The latest data (2022-24), suggests around 7,25,000 are estimated to be living, accounting for 6.6% of the total population. Following a change in U.S. administration and stricter enforcement, illegal migration from India reportedly plunged by 77% in the first nine months of 2025, highest ever till date.
Published – February 25, 2026 05:22 pm IST
