2026 -- H 8121

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LC005505

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING THE IMMIGRANT IMPACT TASK FORCE

     Introduced By: Representatives Stewart, Alzate, Ajello, Potter, Cruz, Diaz, Giraldo,
Dawson, Morales, and Furtado

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     RESOLVED, That a special joint legislative task force be and the same and hereby

created consisting of eleven (11) members: one of whom shall be a member of the Senate, to be

appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a member of the House, to be

appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; one of

whom shall be appointed by the Lt. Governor; two (2) of whom shall be members of the RIBLIA

Caucus, one of whom shall be from the Senate, and one of whom shall be from the House, to be

appointed by the RIBLIA Co-Chairs; and five (5) of whom shall be representatives of

organizations offering aid or services to immigrants, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the

President of the Senate, and two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, or any task force created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing authority

may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator.

     The purpose of said Task Force shall be to shall be make a comprehensive study of the

following issues:

     • To create a public record of the conduct of federal agents regarding military-style

immigration enforcement operations across the State;

     • The practices and procedures of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement

agency within this State and the use and condition of detention centers in this State;

     • The extent to which immigrants in this State are being discriminated against and

provide policy recommendations to improve relations and prevent future harm to these

individuals and communities;

     • What Rhode Island is currently doing to proactively help immigrant communities in

this State, including whether such persons are receiving help to become citizens;

     • Whether the laws specifically intended to benefit immigrant populations in this State

are actually having a beneficial effect;

     • What is the status of immigrant communities from urban, suburban, and rural areas of

this State, and whether adequate support and resources have been provided to these communities;

     • All contracts that Rhode Island has entered into with United States Immigration and

Customs Enforcement, including contracts with private detention centers, the State Police, and

the Secretary of State's Office, and the Division of Motor Vehicles; and

     • Examine whether all State agencies provide language access for non-English

speakers, and which agencies and in what regions of the State is there a lack of language access

that creates barriers for non-English dominant speakers from accessing support from the State.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the task force shall meet at the

call of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select co-

chairpersons from among the legislators.

     Vacancies in said task force shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said task force shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said task force and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable

by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said task force; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the task force shall report its findings and recommendations to the

General Assembly on or before January 5, 2027, and said task force shall expire on March 5,

2027.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING THE IMMIGRANT IMPACT TASK FORCE

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     This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative task force whose

purpose it would be to track and oversee immigration enforcement and support actions in Rhode

Island, and who would report back to the General Assembly House no later than January 5, 2027,

and whose life would expire on March 5, 2027.

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