Murder conviction overturned, but minor drug charge sparks deportation threat.
An Indian-origin man in the US, Subramanyam 'Subu' Vedam, spent over 43 years in prison for a murder he insisted he did not commit. After his conviction was finally overturned this year, he tasted freedom for only a moment before being detained again—this time facing deportation.
In a significant development now capturing headlines, two separate US courts have stepped in to block his removal. Both an immigration judge and a Pennsylvania district court have ordered a halt to the Subramanyam Vedam deportation.
The 64-year-old is currently being held at a Louisiana detention center. This new court order gives him a crucial fighting chance to stay in the country he has called home since he was just nine months old.
Mr. Vedam's story is a harrowing case of wrongful conviction. He was arrested in 1982 for the 1980 murder of his friend, Thomas Kinser, and was convicted in 1983 based on what his lawyers claim was weak, circumstantial evidence. He was sentenced to life without parole.
For decades, 'Subu' and his family fought to prove his innocence. While spending 43 years in prison, he became a model inmate, earning three degrees and mentoring others.
The breakthrough finally came in August 2025. A Pennsylvania court overturned his conviction after his legal team uncovered crucial ballistics evidence that prosecutors had allegedly hidden for decades. He was released from prison on October 3.
However, upon walking free, he was immediately taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This latest piece of US immigration news highlights a cruel twist: ICE intends to deport the Indian-origin man based on a minor drug offense from the 1980s. The Department of Homeland Security maintains that the overturned murder case does not erase the old drug conviction.
Vedam's lawyers and sister argue that the 43 years he lost to a wrongful conviction should far outweigh the minor charge. The current court orders pause the Subramanyam Vedam deportation process, allowing the Bureau of Immigration Appeals time to review his case, which could take months.
