Blair alum Ricardo Murga returns to discuss immigration law

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, Blair alumnus Ricardo Murga ('08) returned to speak with students, staff, and community members about immigration enforcement and how schools can support students affected by it. Murga, now a senior attorney at Sanabria & Associates, represents families facing deportation and navigating complex immigration laws.

Murga started by tracing his own journey back to his time at Blair. In high school, he heard a classmate had skipped class to attend an immigration protest. Curious, he started reading about U.S. involvement in Central America, especially in El Salvador. “I went home and looked into what was going on in El Salvador. It blew my mind,” he said. The research opened his eyes to foreign policy and its ripple effects, and planted the seed for what would become his life’s work.

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Photo: Ricardo Murga explains how recent immigration policy changes affect families facing deportation.

Ricardo Murga explains how recent immigration policy changes affect families facing deportation. Photo courtesy of Bruno Resetarits.

He then turned to what he described as the “machinery” of immigration enforcement: a system full of confusion and delay. Murga explained that while immigration judges issue deportation orders, the responsibility of carrying them out falls to ICE officers. “Judges issue the order, but ICE has to act on it,” he said. “And a lot of these officers just don’t know what they’re doing. They’re holding them in detention centers.” That kind of bottleneck, he added, is why schools and staff need to act quickly when they hear a student’s family might be at risk. “Once someone is detained, it’s already too late.”

Much of the session focused on what families and advocates are up against. Murga described how recent changes in immigration policy have made it harder for detained individuals to challenge their detention. Specifically, he explained that many people—particularly those who entered the U.S. without a visa—are no longer guaranteed a bond hearing. A bond hearing is a legal process where a judge decides whether someone in immigration detention can be released while their case proceeds. “Without a bond hearing, they can be detained indefinitely,” he explained. This shift means families often lose precious time while loved ones remain stuck in detention with no immediate path to release.

He also warned about scams targeting undocumented immigrants. Murga described how bad actors have impersonated him and even staged fake hearings to exploit vulnerable individuals. “I’ve had people impersonate me and hold fake court hearings,” he said. “Always verify your attorney. Look them up. Don’t pay over WhatsApp or Zelle.” With misinformation and fraud on the rise, he encouraged attendees to be cautious and to connect with reputable legal aid organizations when seeking help.

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Photo: Teachers and community members ask Murga questions regarding immigration legislation

Teachers and community members ask Murga questions regarding immigration legislation Photo courtesy of Bruno Resetarits.

Staff who attended the session said it left them better prepared to support students and families. “He didn’t sugarcoat anything. It was heavy, but it was real,” said Isabel Hernández-Catá, an AP Music Theory teacher at Blair. “He gave us tools, not just facts.”

In a follow-up conversation with Silver Chips Online, Murga shared what students can do if they want to take action. “They should inform themselves about legal ways they can get involved,” he said. “Study the law. Know your rights. Use legal channels to stay engaged.” 

He also noted that student activism at Blair hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Seeing you guys do that walkout last year made me very, very happy that you guys are in the fight as well,” he explained. “The more pressure you put, the more it gets to [legislators]. That’s how things change.”