In a remarkable turn of events, U.S. courts have stepped in to temporarily halt the deportation of Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam, a 64-year-old Indian-origin man. Vedam spent over four decades behind bars before his murder conviction was overturned. Having legally immigrated from India as a baby, he was held at a detention center in Louisiana.
The legal drama unfolded last week as an immigration judge granted a stay of deportation, pending the Board of Immigration Appeals’ review of his case, a process that could take months. This was quickly followed by a district court in Pennsylvania issuing an order that prevents his removal from the United States, providing a significant legal safeguard.
Vedam’s long incarceration stemmed from a 1983 murder conviction, related to the disappearance and death of his friend Thomas Kinser in 1980. He was the last person seen with Kinser, and his conviction relied on circumstantial evidence, lacking direct proof, witnesses, or a clear motive, according to his defense. He also had a minor drug offense from around the same time.
During his nearly 43 years of imprisonment, Vedam engaged in self-improvement, earning multiple academic degrees and serving as a mentor to other inmates. His family’s unwavering commitment to proving his innocence persisted through the decades. His parents passed away before justice was served.
This year, in August, a major victory came when a Pennsylvania court overturned his conviction. This was made possible by the discovery of long-suppressed ballistic evidence that prosecutors had withheld. Vedam walked free on October 3, only to be detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE is now pursuing his deportation based on the past drug conviction, a move his legal team and sister argue is unjust given the immense suffering caused by his wrongful imprisonment.