Subramanyam Subu Vedam exonerated after decades in prison, now detained by ICE on old deportation order
After spending more than four decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit, 64-year-old Subramanyam Subu Vedam’s long-awaited freedom in the United States has taken a troubling turn. Moments after being released from Pennsylvania’s Huntingdon State Correctional Institution, Vedam was reportedly detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over a decades-old deportation order, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Vedam exonerated after Pennsylvania court overturns 1983 murder conviction
Vedam, who moved to the US from India as an infant and has lived there nearly all his life, was exonerated earlier this month after a Pennsylvania court overturned his 1983 murder conviction. The ruling came after prosecutors were found to have withheld a crucial FBI report that contradicted key evidence. The report detailed bullet hole sizes in the victim’s skull that challenged the prosecution’s theory about the weapon used, leading Judge Jonathan Grine to conclude the jury’s verdict could have been different if the evidence had been disclosed.
- Following the decision, Centre County District Attorney Bernie Cantorna dismissed all charges, noting the passage of time and loss of key witnesses
- Vedam became the longest-serving wrongfully convicted person in Pennsylvania’s history, and among the longest in the US
Decades in prison marked by resilience and academic achievement
During his incarceration, Vedam reportedly educated fellow inmates, established literacy programs, helped others earn high school diplomas, and completed multiple degrees himself, including an MBA with a perfect 4.0 GPA, becoming the first in over 150 years at the State Prison to earn a graduate degree while incarcerated.
ICE detains Vedam citing legacy deportation order from teen drug conviction
Soon after release, ICE officers took Vedam into custody, citing a ‘legacy deportation order’ from the 1980s for a teenage drug conviction involving LSD possession with intent to distribute. While the order had remained inactive during his life sentence, it was reactivated upon release. ICE stated that Vedam “has a standing removal order” and is considered a priority for enforcement as a “convicted controlled substance trafficker.”
Vedam’s attorney, Ava Benach, challenged this, arguing the conviction was from his teenage years and that deporting him now would be a grave injustice, especially given his wrongful murder conviction had prevented him from contesting the order earlier.
Family appeals for discretion, highlighting Vedam’s life-long ties to the US
Vedam’s family expressed shock, calling the deportation threat a remnant of his original wrongful case. His sister, Saraswathi Vedam, highlighted his decades of service and resilience in prison, while his niece, Zoe Miller Vedam, emphasized the hardship of sending him to India, where he has no family. Vedam’s parents passed away years ago, underscoring his lifelong ties to the US.
His legal team has filed motions to reopen the immigration case and pause deportation proceedings, citing discretion in cases involving rehabilitation and extraordinary circumstances. Benach stated,
“Had Subu not been wrongfully convicted, he would likely have retained his permanent residency decades ago. Deporting him now would only compound a lifetime of injustice.”
