Staff Reports
President Trump used his State of the Union address to put a human face on a tragic consequence of open‑border policies, honoring young Dalilah Coleman and her family in front of the nation. It was a clear signal that his administration intends to make public safety and the rule of law the centerpieces of a renewed America First agenda.
The pain behind that moment is real: on June 20, 2024, an 18‑wheeler driven by Partap Singh plowed into stopped traffic in a California construction zone, triggering a multi‑vehicle pileup that forever changed a little girl’s life. The crash, which federal and local authorities say was caused by unsafe speed and failure to stop, left Dalilah critically injured and her family shattered.
Doctors say Dalilah spent weeks in a coma, suffered skull fractures and a broken femur, and now faces lifelong therapy as she relearns to walk and speak — a heartbreaking reality no parent should endure. Her slow, painful progress stands as living proof that these are not abstract policy debates but human tragedies with permanent consequences.
Shockingly, the truck driver who caused that carnage had been issued a commercial driver’s license by California despite questions about his immigration status, and federal authorities later arrested him, placing him in ICE custody. That failure of state licensing and enforcement is exactly why the President called for new federal rules to prevent states from issuing CDLs to those here illegally.
Dalilah’s father has been vocal about his family’s struggle for help, accusing California officials of ignoring pleas for assistance while his daughter fights for every small recovery milestone. The family’s anguish is a stark rebuke to politicians who prioritize political optics over the safety of working Americans.
Enough is enough: conservatives should seize this moment to demand common‑sense reforms — secure the border, enforce federal immigration law, and stop rewarding states that rubber‑stamp licenses to noncitizens without proper vetting. Congress must act to pass what the President called the Dalilah Law, ensuring that no other child is left fighting for her life because of bureaucratic negligence.
We owe Dalilah and every American family more than empty sympathy; we owe them action, accountability, and leadership that puts citizens first. Stand with families, hold failing politicians to account, and push for laws that keep our highways and communities safe from preventable tragedies.
