PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In a landmark ruling, two courts have ordered immigration officials to halt the deportation of Subramanyam Vedam, a man who recently had his murder conviction overturned after spending four decades behind bars. Known affectionately as ‘Subu,’ the 64-year-old was transferred to a short-term holding center in Alexandria, Louisiana, from Pennsylvania just after his release from prison, raising concerns about his future.
On Thursday, an immigration judge ruled to stay Vedam's deportation while the Bureau of Immigration Appeals evaluates the merits of his case. Concurrently, Vedam's legal team received a similar stay from U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania, although they are concerned that the latter may be on hold due to the immigration court's decision.
Vedam immigrated to the U.S. from India as a child and was raised in State College, home to Penn State University. He served life in prison for a crime stemming from a friend's death in 1980, but the conviction was declared unjust earlier this year. After earning several degrees while incarcerated, his release on October 3 marked a new chapter that quickly turned sour as he was taken into immigration custody for a prior LSD delivery charge from his youth.
Vedam's lawyers argue that the decades spent in wrongful imprisonment should outweigh past convictions in the eyes of immigration law. A representative from the Department of Homeland Security stated that the overturning of the murder conviction does not nullify Vedam's drug-related plea.
Despite these challenges, Vedam's sister expressed relief at the judicial interventions and emphasized the injustice that could result from his deportation, highlighting that he has essentially been rooted in U.S. soil from infancy. The family remains hopeful as they await further proceedings.
On Thursday, an immigration judge ruled to stay Vedam's deportation while the Bureau of Immigration Appeals evaluates the merits of his case. Concurrently, Vedam's legal team received a similar stay from U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania, although they are concerned that the latter may be on hold due to the immigration court's decision.
Vedam immigrated to the U.S. from India as a child and was raised in State College, home to Penn State University. He served life in prison for a crime stemming from a friend's death in 1980, but the conviction was declared unjust earlier this year. After earning several degrees while incarcerated, his release on October 3 marked a new chapter that quickly turned sour as he was taken into immigration custody for a prior LSD delivery charge from his youth.
Vedam's lawyers argue that the decades spent in wrongful imprisonment should outweigh past convictions in the eyes of immigration law. A representative from the Department of Homeland Security stated that the overturning of the murder conviction does not nullify Vedam's drug-related plea.
Despite these challenges, Vedam's sister expressed relief at the judicial interventions and emphasized the injustice that could result from his deportation, highlighting that he has essentially been rooted in U.S. soil from infancy. The family remains hopeful as they await further proceedings.
