PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Subramanyam Vedam, who has fought for over 40 years to clear his name in the 1980 murder of his friend Thomas Kinser, was set to walk free from a Pennsylvania prison this month after his conviction was overturned. Instead, he has found himself in federal immigration custody due to a decades-old deportation order.
At just 19 years old, Vedam was wrongfully convicted of killing Kinser, despite having no motive and being the last person seen with him. His journey through the legal system has been tumultuous, marked by two convictions and lengthy imprisonment. The tide turned in August when overdue ballistics evidence suggested that the bullet known to be involved was too small to be fired from the gun associated with Vedam.
As of October 3, just as his sister prepared to bring him home, Vedam was arrested by federal authorities under a deportation order dated back to 1999. Having come to the United States legally from India as an infant, Vedam now faces a daunting legal battle for his right to remain in the country he has called home.
With the current policy climate focusing on mass deportations, Vedam's attorneys argue that his long wrongful imprisonment and subsequent life changes should substantially outweigh any previous offenses. Immigration lawyer Ava Benach stated, “He has suffered a profound injustice,” underscoring that the years spent behind bars are not a mere blank slate.
Vedam's acquittal comes with a complicated backdrop. While he has rebuilt his life behind bars—earning multiple degrees and helping fellow inmates—his immigration situation threatens to undo this progress. Immigration Court must now weigh his past against the severe injustices he faced, and the Department of Homeland Security has already contested efforts to remain in the U.S.
Vedam has been in custody at a large ICE facility in Pennsylvania since his arrest, awaiting a decision on whether the Board of Immigration Appeals will reopen his case. His sister Saraswathi remains hopeful amidst the uncertainty, stating that patience is essential, and they must keep holding onto the belief that justice will prevail.
