A migrant man whose mental competence was questioned in open court was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers moments after his immigration hearing in San Francisco on Thursday. Law enforcement proceeded despite a judge’s explicit concerns about his ability to participate in legal proceedings.
The man, who was only fluent in Mam, a Mayan language primarily spoken in Guatemala, muttered to himself throughout the hearing and was unable to answer basic questions from Immigration Judge Patrick O’Brien, including his home address.
“It’s obvious to me that there are competency issues,” said O’Brien, as Mother Jones reports. O’Brien added that the man appeared confused even after a Mam interpreter was eventually located to assist. “He’s clearly not understanding the questions.”…