Two US courts have halted the deportation of Subramanyam Vedam, a 64-year-old Indian-origin man who spent over four decades in prison before being cleared of a murder charge. Vedam, who moved to the US as a baby and grew up in Pennsylvania, had his conviction overturned earlier this year after new ballistics evidence surfaced.
He was released from a Pennsylvania prison on October 3 but was immediately taken into immigration custody. Authorities transferred him to a detention centre in Alexandria, Louisiana, which has an airstrip used for deportations.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeks to deport him over a decades-old LSD delivery charge from his youth. His lawyers argue that his wrongful imprisonment, education, and mentoring work behind bars should outweigh that offense.
Vedam’s deportation has been stayed by both an immigration judge and a federal court while his appeal is reviewed. His sister, Saraswathi Vedam, said the family feels relief and hopes the Board of Immigration Appeals will recognize the injustice.
“Subu suffered 43 years for a crime he didn’t commit,” she said. “Deporting him now would be another unbearable wrong.”
