TRAGER LAW
Dedicated to providing experienced immigration legal services to clients in Louisville and beyond. Our mission is to guide clients through the complex immigration landscape with compassion and professionalism, ensuring the best possible outcomes for them and their families.
Our Mission & Values
At Trager Law, we believe in justice, advocacy, and personalized legal support. Our mission is to protect the rights of our clients and help them achieve their immigration goals through dedicated and skilled representation.
Our Team
Duffy Trager
Immigration Attorney
Duffy is a seasoned immigration attorney with a deep commitment to advocating for vulnerable populations. With extensive experience representing clients before Immigration Courts, USCIS, ICE, and U.S. consulates, Duffy has successfully handled a wide array of complex immigration cases, including Asylum, Cancellation of Removal, all facets of Family-based Immigration, T/U Visas, Waivers, Appeals, National Interest Waivers, Extraordinary Ability EB 1 Visas, and Naturalization.
His passion for different cultures and advocacy for social justice have been a driving force throughout his career, from his work in Central America to his numerous speaking engagements at prestigious conferences. Duffy has received multiple awards for his exceptional legal skills and humanitarian efforts, demonstrating his ability to achieve outstanding results for his clients.
In law school, Duffy excelled in advocacy competitions (winning both the NYU Immigration Moot Court and Pirtle Washer Advocacy Competitions) and worked tirelessly at Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services. As a bilingual attorney in English and Spanish, Duffy is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective legal representation to the Louisville community and beyond.
Outside of the office, Duffy prioritizes quality time with his loved ones - his wife, three young children, and two dogs. As a devoted husband, father, brother, and son, family values are at the core of Duffy's personal and professional life. This unwavering commitment to family fuels his passion for reuniting clients with their own loved ones through our immigration law services.
Daisy Zapata
Paralegal
Daisy Zapata, originally from Queens, New York, found her roots in Shelbyville, Kentucky. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish from Asbury University in 2018, she embarked on a diverse career path. Daisy's journey includes roles in social work, the pretrial services department for the state of Kentucky, and teaching Spanish as a substitute.
Raised by a single mother from Ecuador, Daisy intimately understands the challenges and aspirations of immigrants navigating the path to U.S. citizenship. Her passion for supporting others extends to her community involvement, including earning the Girl Scout Gold Award for upgrading a playground and volunteering at summer camps like Royal Family Kids. Daisy's global perspective has been enriched through missionary trips to Lesotho, Guatemala, and Australia, reflecting her deep commitment to making a positive impact wherever she goes.
Irie Ewers
Immigration Attorney
Irie Ewers is an immigration advocate passionate about resilient social justice. Her motto is: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
Before undergrad, Irie picked up Spanish in Cañar, Ecuador. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from The New School in 2018 where she was actively involved in sustainable finance initiatives, interned on Rockefeller Capital Management’s ESG team, received two Eugene Lang Social Science research fellowships, and participated in oikos International. In May 2025, she graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis Law School.
In law school, Irie won the first-year oral advocacy competition, competed on the National Moot Court team, acted as Senior Editor of the Journal of Animal and Environmental Law, and lead LAMDA Law. As a Senior Resilience Justice Fellow, she worked on a NOAA funded “Equitable Adaptation Project” assessing equity for low-income communities of color within eight coastal city’s climate adaptation plans. In 2024, she joined New York Lawyers for the Public Interest’s Environmental Justice team as a Civil Rights intern. While she also dabbled in workers’ compensation, immigration law elicited enthusiasm for storytelling. As a student attorney in Brandeis’ inaugural Immigration Clinic, she used a client-centered and trauma-informed approach for humanitarian and family-based petitions including marriage-based adjustments, U-visas, and VAWA applications.
Outside the office, she volunteers with New Americans Initiative. She enjoys her time gardening, writing, and supporting Louisville’s incredible art, poetry, and music scene at local cooperatives and community led venues. She also enjoys hiking around Kentucky’s expansive green-spaces with her bilingual family and two dogs. (The two cats and leopard gecko sadly stay at home, for now).
Brendan Lewis
Law Clerk
Brendan Lewis is a third-year law student at the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law who has spent the past year working with Trager Law to help clients navigate immigration challenges with care and determination. Drawn to the firm’s client-centered mission, he assists with a wide range of matters—from family petitions and asylum cases to naturalization and humanitarian relief—while developing a practical foundation in immigration law.
At school, Brendan is active in the Law Review, where he refines legal research and writing skills, and is a member of the International Law Society and Lambda Law Caucus, groups that reflect a passion for both global perspectives and advocacy for LGBTQ+ communities. These experiences reinforce his belief that the law can—and should—serve as a tool for inclusion and meaningful change.
Outside of the office, Brendan enjoys reading, traveling, and working through challenging puzzles. He is an avid music fan who collects vinyl records and often seeks out new additions to his collection. Brendan also enjoys exploring popular culture through reality television and competition shows such as Survivor and Big Brother. When time allows, he volunteers in the community, reflecting his commitment to service both inside and outside the legal field.
Notable Successes
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Achieved a waiver for a client initially found not credible, later granted by the same judge.
April 2024, Louisville Immigration Court
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Secured reserved grant of both special rule cancellation of removal and nonpermanent resident cancellation of removal for the same client in removal proceedings.
March 2024, Chicago Immigration Court
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Won an asylum case with a judge having a 95% denial rate, despite a 20-year delay in filing.
May 2022, Louisville Immigration Court
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Successfully secured asylum for a domestic violence victim despite Matter of A-B-, 27 I&N Dec. 316 (A.G. 2018). Upheld on appeal.
February 2019, Louisville Immigration Court
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Obtained nonpermanent resident cancellation of removal despite significant criminal history.
July 2019, Louisville Immigration Court
Client Testimonials
Media
‘Humanitarian crisis’: Trump administration makes drastic cut to refugee admissions to the U.S.
Nov 3, 2025 — Kentucky Wave 3 News‘I need her’: Son of Honduran mother detained by ICE in Louisville speaks out
Sep 12, 2025 — Kentucky Wave 3 NewsImmigrants in Kentucky Losing Legal Status
Jul 16, 2025 — Kentucky Education Television (KET), a PBS stationMixed reactions to Trump administration’s partial entry restrictions for Cubans
Jun 5, 2025 — Kentucky Wave 3 NewsUofL Hospital officials say undocumented man no longer faces imminent removal from U.S. following seizure
June 24, 2024 — Louisville Public MediaKentucky Tonight: Immigration & Border Security
July 8, 2019 — Kentucky Education Television (KET), a PBS stationKentucky Tonight: Immigration Issues
December 3, 2018 — Kentucky Education Television (KET), a PBS station
Professional Associations
Speaking Events
AILA MidSouth Chapter Annual Conference (2025)
Department of Public Advocacy Annual Conference (2025)
Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Justice (2025)
Commonwealth Attorney's Winter Conference (2024)
Department of Public Advocacy Conference (2022)
Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Conference (2022, 2020, and 2017)
Kentucky Tonight on PBS (2018 and 2019)
Kentucky Bar Association Annual Conference (2019)
AILA National Conference (2017)
Public Defender Education Conference (2017)