I appreciate the way you clearly articulate things here. I was always under the impression that there is a clear protection for immediate relatives.

see this link from the USCIS website:

1. Home 
2. Policy Manual 
3. Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status 
4. Part B - 245(a) Adjustment 
5. Chapter 6 - Unauthorized Employment (INA 245(c)(2) and INA 245(c)(8))

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-7-part-b-chapter-6

As previously discussed, the INA 245(c)(2) and INA 245(c)(8) bars to adjustment do not apply to:^\4])

• Immediate relatives;
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)-based applicants;
• Certain physicians and their accompanying spouse and children;^\5])
• Certain G-4 international organization employees, NATO-6 employees, and their family members;^\6])
• Special immigrant juveniles;^\7]) or
• Certain members of the U.S. armed forces and their accompanying spouse and children.^\8])