Pennsylvania Man Released from Prison After Serving Four Decades to Be Deported to India
A US immigration court has ordered officials not to deport a Pennsylvania man who spent nearly four decades in prison before his murder conviction was overturned, despite having an outstanding drug charge against him. Subramanyam Vedam, 64, is currently being held at a short-term detention center in Louisiana as he awaits the outcome of his case.
Vedam, who has been living in the US since he was just nine months old, served life for the murder of a friend in 1980 before his conviction was overturned this year. However, immigration officials are seeking to deport him over his no contest plea to charges of LSD delivery when he was about 20.
Vedam's lawyers argue that his four decades in prison, during which he earned degrees and tutored fellow inmates, outweigh the drug charge, while Vedam's sister says the family is relieved "that two different judges have agreed that Subu's deportation is unwarranted while his effort to re-open his immigration case is still pending."
An immigration judge has stayed Vedam's deportation until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether to review his case. The decision may take several months. In a statement, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the reversal in the murder case does not negate the drug conviction, stating that "having a single conviction vacated will not stop ICE's enforcement of the federal immigration law."
Vedam's lawyers have requested a stay on his deportation and are hopeful that the Board of Immigration Appeals will ultimately agree that his deportation would represent another untenable injustice. The family is also seeking to re-open Vedam's immigration case, citing the fact that he has lived in the US since he was nine months old.
As Vedam waits for the outcome of his case, his supporters argue that his decades-long imprisonment and his efforts to correct his wrongful conviction should outweigh any outstanding charges against him. The case raises questions about the impact of prolonged detention on individuals seeking asylum or correction of their past mistakes.
A US immigration court has ordered officials not to deport a Pennsylvania man who spent nearly four decades in prison before his murder conviction was overturned, despite having an outstanding drug charge against him. Subramanyam Vedam, 64, is currently being held at a short-term detention center in Louisiana as he awaits the outcome of his case.
Vedam, who has been living in the US since he was just nine months old, served life for the murder of a friend in 1980 before his conviction was overturned this year. However, immigration officials are seeking to deport him over his no contest plea to charges of LSD delivery when he was about 20.
Vedam's lawyers argue that his four decades in prison, during which he earned degrees and tutored fellow inmates, outweigh the drug charge, while Vedam's sister says the family is relieved "that two different judges have agreed that Subu's deportation is unwarranted while his effort to re-open his immigration case is still pending."
An immigration judge has stayed Vedam's deportation until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether to review his case. The decision may take several months. In a statement, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the reversal in the murder case does not negate the drug conviction, stating that "having a single conviction vacated will not stop ICE's enforcement of the federal immigration law."
Vedam's lawyers have requested a stay on his deportation and are hopeful that the Board of Immigration Appeals will ultimately agree that his deportation would represent another untenable injustice. The family is also seeking to re-open Vedam's immigration case, citing the fact that he has lived in the US since he was nine months old.
As Vedam waits for the outcome of his case, his supporters argue that his decades-long imprisonment and his efforts to correct his wrongful conviction should outweigh any outstanding charges against him. The case raises questions about the impact of prolonged detention on individuals seeking asylum or correction of their past mistakes.
I'm so done with these US immigration policies! Like, Subramanyam Vedam's been locked up for 4 decades and now they're gonna send him to India just 'cause he's got a drug charge? 
It's like, hello, that's some harsh stuff right there. He's already served life for murder and then gets another sentence added on? It's just not fair.
It's like, come on.
The fact that two different judges agreed that deportation is unwarranted is a step in the right direction, but it's gonna take some serious lobbying from his lawyers to keep him from being sent back. Fingers crossed for Vedam! 
He spent 40 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit and now he's being kicked out of the country for doing some dumb stuff as a kid? 
. But seriously, what's up with these immigration laws? Don't they understand that life is long and people can change 
. This whole thing just highlights how messed up our system can be 
! Can you imagine how many memes he's missed? But seriously, four decades is a looong time to be locked up and then deported? It's like, his life's not even a TikTok challenge 
. His lawyers are saying his prison time and tutoring skills should count for something, but I'm like, dude, you've got a felony drug charge too... that's like, a whole different story 
. i think this is a huge example of how our justice system can be broken 
. how can we just throw someone back into the system after they've already served so much time? it's like giving them a second chance, but also basically condemning them to another life in prison 
.
