Opinion ID: 4880755
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: First Appearance

Text: B.C. first appeared before the IJ in March 2018. The scene was passing strange: Due to a “scrivener’s error,” B.C.’s Notice to Appear erroneously stated that he was a citizen of Guatemala. A.R. at 438. He therefore found himself at a preliminary group hearing with noncitizens who primarily spoke Spanish and where the only available interpreter was a Spanish speaker. When the IJ turned to B.C., he did not ask what languages B.C. spoke, but instead gave him a simple choice between two languages: “Spanish or English?” A.R. at 460. Having no other option, B.C. chose English. Id. In “Standard” English and with a Spanish interpreter, the IJ then explained the removal process to the group.