HOUSE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES EXERCISE DISCRETION IN ADJUDICATING STATUS APPLICATIONS CONSISTENT WITH HISTORICAL PRACTICE, the official text

H8608 2026 -- H 8608 ======== LC006535 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES EXERCISE DISCRETION IN ADJUDICATING STATUS APPLICATIONS CONSISTENT WITH HISTORICAL PRACTICE Introduced By: Representative David P. Morales Date Introduced: June 03, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary 1 WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders possess the right not to be deprived of life, liberty, or 2 property without the due process of law, which inherently includes the freedom to establish a 3 family and enter into marriage regardless of a spouse’s national origin; and 4 WHEREAS, Since the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, citizens 5 of the United States have been permitted to sponsor their immigrant spouse for lawful permanent 6 residence without being subjected to forced separation through mandatory consular processing 7 abroad; and 8 WHEREAS, In enacting these laws, Congress established an inland immigration process 9 with the intent of promoting and preserving family unity; and 10 WHEREAS, The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Policy 11 Manual explicitly acknowledges this congressional intent, stating: “One reason Congress created 12 the adjustment of status provision was to enable certain aliens physically present in the United 13 States to become LPRs without incurring the expense and inconvenience of traveling abroad to 14 obtain an immigrant visa. Congress has added additional adjustment of status provisions to 15 promote family unity ; and 16 WHEREAS, On Friday, May 22, 2026, preceding a major holiday weekend, USCIS 17 published an unsigned memorandum (PM-602-0199) that upends over seventy years of 18 established immigration law and institutional practice; and 19 WHEREAS, If implemented, this memorandum would forcibly separate U.S. citizens 1 from their spouses for indefinite, prolonged, or even permanent periods of time; and 2 WHEREAS, This memorandum would effectively compel U.S. citizens to forego their 3 due process rights by mandating consular processing, an avenue where visa denials are generally 4 insulated from judicial review; now, therefore, be it 5 RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 6 strongly condemns the implementation of USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199; and be it 7 further 8 RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island urges 9 USCIS to continue to favorably exercise discretion in adjudicating adjustment of status 10 applications, consistent with historical practice prior to the sudden issuance of this unsigned 11 memorandum; and be it further 12 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 13 transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel J. McKee, Governor of 14 the State of Rhode Island; the Honorable Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of the United States 15 Department of Homeland Security; the Honorable Joseph B. Edlow, Director of the United States 16 Citizenship and Immigration Services; and the Field Office Director of the United States 17 Citizenship and Immigration Services Providence Field Office. ======== LC006535 ======== LC006535 - Page 2 of 2