Sovereign Hager is the Public Benefits Director at NMCLP where she leads impact litigation and policy advocacy to ensure all New Mexican families can access the public benefits they need to thrive. A longtime advocate and attorney at the Center, she served as the Legal Director from 2018-2025. She has worked extensively with families and other advocates to increase fairness in the administration of public programs by enforcing and expanding rights to food, cash and medical assistance, language access, and housing. Prior to NMCLP, Sovereign worked in medical legal partnership on the Navajo Nation addressing legal issues impacting patient health at an IHS clinic. She also has experience enforcing fair housing law and upholding agricultural worker rights.