US Courts Block Deportation of Indian-Origin Man Jailed for 43 Years in Error

Subramanyam 'Subu' Vedam, who moved to the US as an infant, was arrested in 1982 for allegedly murdering his friend. After spending over 40 years in prison, his conviction was overturned. Now, two US courts have instructed the immigration department to stop his deportation. The 64-year-old is currently held at a Louisiana detention centre with a deportation airstrip.

Last week, an immigration judge temporarily halted Vedam's deportation until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides on reviewing his case, which could take months. On the same day, a Pennsylvania district court also paused his deportation.

Conviction and Overturned Verdict

Vedam was accused of killing Thomas Kinser in 1980. Kinser disappeared in December 1980 and was found dead nine months later in the woods. Vedam, then a legal permanent resident of the US, was last seen with Kinser and briefly detained on drug charges during that time.

In 1983, Vedam received a life sentence without parole for murder and an additional two-and-a-half to five years for a drug offence. His conviction relied on circumstantial evidence without witnesses or motive. His family tirelessly worked to prove his innocence over the years.

Life Behind Bars

While imprisoned in Pennsylvania, Vedam earned three degrees and became both a teacher and mentor to fellow inmates. His father passed away in 2009, followed by his mother's death in 2016.

In August, Vedam's conviction was overturned by a Pennsylvania court after his lawyers discovered suppressed ballistics evidence that had been hidden by prosecutors for decades.

After being released from prison on October 3rd following more than 43 years behind bars, Vedam was immediately taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE aims to deport him due to the minor drug offence he was convicted of earlier.

The Department of Homeland Security insists that overturning the murder conviction does not nullify the drug charge. However, Vedam's sister and lawyers argue that his wrongful imprisonment should outweigh this minor charge.