New York/Washington, February 25 President Donald Trump honored a young girl who suffered life-altering injuries in a multi-vehicle crash caused by an Indian truck driver living illegally in the country, during his address to a joint session of the US Congress.
In his State of the Union address at the US Capitol on Tuesday, Trump said that Dalilah Coleman was only five years old in June 2024 when an 18-wheel tractor-trailer traveling at 60 miles per hour collided with her stationary car.
"The driver was an illegal immigrant who had been admitted by Joe Biden and had been given a commercial driver's license by politicians in California with open border policies," he said.
Although Trump did not mention the driver's identity, in August last year, Partap Singh, who had arrived in the US illegally, was arrested for causing the multi-vehicle crash while driving the 18-wheeler truck in California, which had critically injured Coleman.
Trump noted that doctors had said that Coleman would never be able to walk or talk, or 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 father... Dalilah... You are a great inspiration. Please stand up," he said.
Coleman, accompanied by her father, was seated in the gallery of the House chamber along with other special guests.
She received a standing ovation and thunderous applause from lawmakers, guests, and attendees.
Trump said that many "illegal immigrants" do not speak English and cannot even read the most basic road signs about direction, speed, danger, or location.
"That's why tonight I'm calling on Congress to pass what we will call the Dalilah Law, which would bar any state from granting commercial driver's licenses to illegal immigrants," he said, drawing applause.
Singh had illegally crossed the southern border in October 2022 and was "released" into the country by the Joe Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had said in a statement.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later arrested Singh, and he was in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.
The agency said that in June 2024, Singh caused the multi-car pileup while driving a commercial 18-wheeler in California.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Traffic Crash Report stated that Singh drove at an unsafe speed and failed to stop for traffic and a construction zone.
Singh had been issued a commercial driver’s license by the Department of Motor Vehicles of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The accident had left Coleman with critical, life-altering injuries. Her stepfather, Michael Krause, was also hospitalised, while the child had to be airlifted to a hospital. Several others were also treated for injuries.
According to Coleman's father, the crash resulted in her inability to walk, talk, eat orally, or attend kindergarten as planned. She was in a coma for three weeks and required six months of hospital treatment before her family could bring her home.
While in the hospital, she had a craniectomy and was without half of her skull for four months. She experienced a broken femur, skull fractures, and has since been diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, and will need lifelong therapy.
"Dalilah Coleman's life was forever changed when an illegal immigrant driving an 18-wheeler slammed into her and her family. This tragedy was entirely preventable," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem had said.
