Subramanyam Vedam's Deportation Halted After Murder Conviction Overturned

Philadelphia, US (Nov 4, AP) – In a significant development, two distinct courts have halted the deportation of Subramanyam Vedam, an Indian-origin man whose murder conviction was overturned after four decades in prison.

Subramanyam Vedam, 64, currently resides in a temporary holding facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, which is equipped with an airstrip for deportations. Known as "Subu," Vedam, a legal permanent resident, was transported there from central Pennsylvania last week, according to family members.

In a recent ruling, an immigration judge has stayed Vedam's deportation until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether to review his case—a process that could span several months. On the same day, Vedam's legal team also secured a stay in the US District Court in Pennsylvania, though the case there may be paused due to the immigration court's decision.

Vedam legally immigrated from India to the United States as an infant, growing up in State College where his father was a Penn State educator. His life sentence linked to a friend's 1980 death was overturned this year.

Though freed from state prison on October 3, Vedam was promptly placed under immigration custody thereafter. The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is pursuing Vedam's deportation due to a no-contest plea tied to LSD delivery charges from when he was around 20.

Vedam's attorneys contend that his four wrongful decades behind bars—during which he earned degrees and tutored fellow inmates—should outweigh the drug-related accusations. Meanwhile, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson emphasized that the murder charge reversal doesn't invalidate the prior drug conviction.

"A single vacated conviction won't prevent ICE from enforcing federal immigration law," stated Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, in an email.

Saraswathi Vedam, Subramanyam's sister, expressed relief at recent judicial rulings, stating, "Two different judges finding Subu's deportation unjust while his immigration case is under review brings us hope." She added, "We trust the Board of Immigration Appeals will acknowledge that deporting Subu, who spent 43 years unjustly imprisoned and has lived in the US since infancy, would be an untenable injustice." (AP) SKS SKS

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