By Jasmine Noble
In honor of Eagan Immigration’s 10th anniversary, we’ve had the opportunity to speak with its founder and CEO, attorney Lauren Eagan. From its humble beginnings to becoming a global firm with a unique virtual structure, Eagan Immigration has maintained its commitment to serving the immigrant community with compassion and dedication. In this exclusive interview, Lauren reflects on the key moments that have defined the firm, the challenges she has overcome as a female leader, and how her passion for justice continues to drive her vision for the future. Join us as we celebrate a decade of achievements and look ahead in the mission to empower immigrants around the world.
Reflecting on the last ten years, which moment or achievement stands out as a turning point for the firm?
Hiring my first assistant, Juan, was a huge turning point for me. I always thought I would do everything myself, but once I hired him, I realized how many more immigrants we could help as a team.
What inspired you to start Eagan Immigration and how have your motivations evolved over the past decade?
I loved being an immigration lawyer, but I didn't like how the lawyers I worked for in the past managed their firms. I decided I wanted to do it my way and create a better environment for myself, my clients, and, once I decided not to do it alone, my team.
As a CEO, wife, and mother, how do you find the balance between your professional responsibilities and your personal life?
From the beginning, I set many boundaries. For example, I almost never work at night or on weekends, and I created that rule before Ryan and I got married and had children. I knew from the start that I wanted a healthy balance. I also make sure to prioritize my health by going to the gym, eating well, and doing things I enjoy (I am currently getting my pilot's license). Those things help me disconnect from work and from being a mother, and allow me to focus on simply being Lauren.
Eagan Immigration predominantly serves the Hispanic community. Can you share a client story or experience that had a particular impact and has stayed with you?
I remember a client I had worked with for a couple of months on a U visa case. But I suspected she was being trafficked. Finally, she had the courage to tell me during one of our appointments. Her son was in the waiting room of our office with her trafficker. We created a plan for me to bring her son back to my office by pretending I had a toy for him.
We then immediately called security and kicked her trafficker out of the building. We spent the rest of the afternoon contacting shelters and other organizations to get her to a safe place. I gave her my personal cell phone number and, over the next few weeks, I spoke with her whenever she felt down and was thinking about going back to her trafficker. I am glad to say that we finally got her T visa approved and we are now awaiting her residency.
What challenges have you faced as a woman leading a law firm and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges is the “You can do it all” mentality that our society imposes on women. Being the perfect mother, the perfect partner, the perfect employee/boss. Letting go of perfectionism is definitely something I work on every day. I have to constantly remind myself that sometimes good enough is enough. I have also struggled, especially in the context of immigration, to be taken seriously by men in certain cultures. As a result, I limited my focus to cultures that I knew would respect me and my knowledge, regardless of my gender. This made a big difference when the firm was small.
In your opinion, what sets Eagan Immigration apart from other immigration law firms?
Our incredible team and company culture. Although this is something internal, I believe our team can be more compassionate with our clients and work harder for them because they feel supported and truly enjoy their work. They also have the flexibility to be innovative and propose creative solutions that other law firms wouldn't even consider. I understand that we are not perfect and that there are definitely times and projects that are challenging, but I believe that knowing your team has your back makes it easier to do incredible work for clients.
Can you share a bit about the firm's specialization in VAWA and the T visa? How do these focus areas reflect the firm's mission and values?
At Eagan Immigration, we want to empower immigrants to help them build a future of hope and opportunity. Both VAWA and T visa cases focus on immigrants who have suffered some form of abuse, trauma, or mistreatment. By handling so many of these cases, we are fighting for those who have spent so much time fighting for themselves. Fighting for safety. Fighting for enough money to eat. Fighting for a future for their children. Fighting to create a life in the United States. These cases mean so much to me because they allow us to help our clients leave the struggle behind and give their power back to them.
How have your background and personal experiences influenced your approach to leading Eagan Immigration and serving your clients?
There are many things in my background that have influenced how I run Eagan Immigration and serve my clients: working at law firms that treated their staff like garbage, watching my ex-husband's green card denied at the consulate and experiencing the pain of separation when he couldn't return to the U.S., watching my fellow immigrants struggle to learn English as a child.
However, as I get older, I increasingly realize that as long as I lead with compassion in all areas of Eagan Immigration and in my life in general, things usually turn out quite well and I can look back and feel confident about the decisions I made.
What do you consider to be the greatest opportunities and challenges in the field of immigration law today?
Politics and more politics. There are many opportunities for Congress to pass laws that could reform immigration laws in a truly positive way. But, at the same time, politicians use immigrants as pawns, and it becomes convenient NOT to make any changes so that “immigration reform” can be used as part of their platform. There is also a great risk in every election that an anti-immigrant person will be elected and wreak havoc on immigrant communities with deportations and threats.
What role does community engagement play in Eagan Immigration's operations, and how do they foster a strong connection with the Hispanic community?
We love giving back to the community and, especially over the past year, we have worked hard to develop relationships within the Hispanic community. Members of our team have given “know your rights” talks at local libraries, attended community events, and volunteered at immigration workshops. In addition, we have been working on an internal program that will allow us to set goals and track our commitment to the community, to ensure that we are truly participating actively. We have also started the process of creating a scholarship fund to help immigrants and their children go to college. This is something I have wanted to do for years and I am very excited that we are moving forward with it.
What are some of the most important lessons you have learned in the last ten years as a leader and entrepreneur?
Be kind and compassionate. Done is better than perfect. It's okay to make mistakes, and if you aren't making them, you aren't being innovative enough. Money is good, but it isn't everything; it's more important to maintain your values than to make a decision just for the money. Be organized from the start. Learn constantly: read books, attend training sessions, network, look for a mentor. Start where you want to end up; this basically means having a plan, setting boundaries, and sticking to them.
What legacy do you hope to leave through your work with Eagan Immigration, both within the firm and in the broader community?
I want my team to look back at their time at Eagan and know that they were supported, respected, and cared for. I want our clients to look back and truly feel that they were seen and empowered. And on a broader scale, I would like to teach more attorneys our innovative legal strategies so they can go out into the community and help more immigrants. I would like Eagan Immigration to be known as the law firm that shaped immigration in the U.S. in a positive way.
As Eagan Immigration looks to the future, the firm's mission remains clear: to support and empower immigrants, providing them not only with legal counsel, but also with hope and the opportunity to build a better future. Over these ten years, Lauren Eagan has proven that leading with compassion and maintaining a strong team culture are the keys to success. With new goals on the horizon and the same unwavering commitment, Eagan Immigration continues to be a beacon of hope for those seeking a new beginning in the United States. Happy 10th anniversary to Eagan Immigration, and may the next ten years bring even more opportunities to impact lives!