Texas Rep. Introduces Law to Ban Non-English Speakers from CDLs
Rep. Brandon Gill introduces ‘Barron’s Law’ to prevent non-English speakers from obtaining commercial licenses.
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Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) has introduced legislation, named after 8-year-old Barron Ritchey, who was killed in a 2023 crash allegedly caused by an illegal alien truck driver. The bill, called ‘Barron’s Law,’ aims to prevent non-English speakers from securing Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) by requiring applicants to prove they are American citizens, green card holders, or authorized to work in the U.S.
Legislation Targets Illegal Truckers and ‘Chameleon Carriers’
Under the proposed law, CDL applicants must also pass standardized English-language proficiency tests approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Gill emphasized that Barron’s death was a preventable tragedy, blaming Democrat-era immigration failures for the incident.
“While nothing can fix the pain of his death, this legislation aims to prevent any other Americans from dying at the hands of illegal aliens behind the wheel on our roads,” Gill stated. The law would also target so-called ‘chameleon carriers,’ which are trucking companies operating under various names.
Barron’s Tragic Death and Family’s Response
In April 2023, Barron was in the car with his mother Stephanie when a semi-truck’s wheel hub and tires broke off on Interstate 35 near Hillsboro, Texas. The crash resulted in Barron’s death. The driver, Martin Monreal-Alvarado, had overstayed his B-1 visa and was in the U.S. illegally.
Barron’s family described him as a joyful eight-year-old boy who loved his family, friends, and making people laugh. They expressed gratitude to Rep. Gill for listening to their story and introducing the law in Barron’s name. While nothing can bring their son back, they hope the legislation can prevent other families from experiencing the same unimaginable loss.
Broader Implications for Immigration and Transportation Policies
The family highlighted that Barron’s death was not the result of a single failure but a series of systemic issues across transportation and immigration systems. The case has now sparked a national conversation about who should be allowed to operate commercial trucks and how laws are enforced.
Source: Breitbart
