After serving 43 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Subramanyam Subu Vedam was finally free. New evidence had exonerated him earlier this month of the murder of his former roommate. However, the moment he was released, Mr. Vedam was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is now seeking to deport him to India — a country he has not lived in since infancy.
Mr. Vedam’s legal team is fighting against the deportation order, and his family is determined to have him returned to their custody permanently.
His family is now navigating a new and challenging situation. My brother has gone from a facility where he knew inmates and guards alike, where he mentored fellow inmates and where he had his own cell, to a facility where he shares a room with 60 men and where his history of good behavior is unknown, said his sister, Saraswathi Vedam.
Despite the turmoil, Mr. Vedam remains optimistic, urging his family to focus on the win of his exoneration. My name has been cleared, I'm no longer a prisoner, I'm a detainee, he said.
Mr. Vedam's wrongful conviction dates back over 40 years when he was accused of murdering his former roommate Tom Kinser, whose body was discovered nine months after he went missing. Vedam consistently maintained his innocence, and the lack of physical evidence against him underscored the injustice he faced.
After multiple appeals, new evidence finally surfaced, prompting the Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna to drop plans for a new trial against Mr. Vedam. However, an ICE hold based on a previous deportation order remains. His family is now advocating for fair consideration of Mr. Vedam's contributions and transformation during his time in prison.
Despite having lived in the US for most of his life, Mr. Vedam's family argues that deporting him to India, where he has no real connections, would amount to a second injustice. They are fighting to keep him in the country where he has deep roots and established relationships.
