In June of last year, Kutak Rock’s Washington and Richmond offices agreed to partner with the Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition to provide pro bono representation of unaccompanied child immigrants. The firm was assigned the case of a 17-year-old boy from Guatemala who had fled persecution in his home village where he had been subject to attempted rape, physical and psychological abuses and gang threats because of his perceived sexual orientation.

Kutak Rock attorney Neo Tran took the lead on the case and was assisted by Andrea Calderon who served as translator. Attorney Craig Young supervised. Tran obtained a stay of action by the Immigration Court and then prepared a case for asylum on humanitarian grounds. On June 28 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security ruled in favor of the firm’s client and granted his asylum in the United States.