Bush 41 and His "Little Brown Ones": "Family Fairness” President Who Pioneered DACA

Say hello to George P. Bush--one of President George H.W. Bush's three grandchildren born of American and Mexican ancestry (giving rise to the president's famous if awkward love for his "little brown ones"). Grandson Bush is the elected land commissioner of Texas.

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It’s understandable that we tend to associate DACA as President Obama’s edict that allows temporarily the presence of roughly two million young migrants who came here as children (700,000 are registered).

But it followed a blueprint set forth by President George H.W. Bush and his INS Commissioner, Gene McNary. The Bush I administration expanded this family-unification policy by deferring deportation for unlawfully present spouses and children of legalized aliens. Later, the INS issued a policy to authorize the employment of these deferral recipients. 

The “D” in DACA stands for “deferred.”

A president cannot legalize the presence of an illegal alien. But a president can put certain individuals at the back of the enforcement line.

President Bush announced a family deferral policy in 1989. He did so because many families could not legalize their presence after a controversial “amnesty” bill was passed in 1986. President Bush’s choice: (1) Deport more than a million young children and one of their parents [the other parent qualified for amnesty], or (2) create a DACA policy.

In 2014, after Tea Party Republicans tried to overturn DACA, the House debated deferral policy. Rep. Zoe Lofgren recalled President Bush:

“There is strong historical precedent for the President’s (Obama’s) actions. Prior Presidents were not met with such obstructionism. President Ronald Reagan created the family fairness program. Once expanded by President George H.W. Bush, that program is expected to protect 1.5 million people. The reason was to keep families together, one of the key motivations for the President’s (Obama’s) actions last month.”

George P. Bush, 41's Grandson