PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Pennsylvania man, Subramanyam Vedam, who spent 43 years in prison before his murder conviction was overturned, now finds himself in immigration custody after his release. At 64 years old, Vedam was denied bail on Tuesday while he continues to fight an ongoing deportation process stemming from a 1999 order.
The Board of Immigration Appeals recently agreed to hear Vedam's appeal based on what they termed "exceptional circumstances." His legal team argues that had it not been for the wrongful murder conviction, he would likely have avoided deportation and might have attained U.S. citizenship. According to his lawyer, Ava Benach, Vedam would have left prison in 1992 if he had only served time for a previous lesser drug charge related to the delivery of LSD.
In September, a Pennsylvania judge voided Vedam's murder conviction for the 1980 killing of a college friend, citing undisclosed ballistics evidence that prosecutors had failed to disclose during both trials. This decision was met with support from various community members, including a Centre County prosecutor and the mayor of State College, where Vedam's father had been a respected professor at Penn State University, as noted by Benach.
However, Immigration Judge Tamar Wilson stated during the recent bail hearing that Vedam must remain in custody due to his felony drug conviction and the opinion of Department of Homeland Security officials who regard him as a safety risk. Despite being described as a "model prisoner," Wilson expressed skepticism about his safety in the general public, noting that this perception does not guarantee a lack of risk.
No hearings regarding the merits of Vedam’s deportation case have been scheduled yet, leaving uncertainty about what the next steps will entail. His sister, Saraswathi Vedam, emphasized her brother’s resilience and commitment to fighting for his freedom, expressing deep disappointment that he was placed into federal immigration custody immediately after his release from state prison on October 3.
Originally immigrating to the U.S. from India at just nine months old with his parents, Vedam has faced considerable tribulations over the decades. Following allegations of a serious crime that resulted in his lengthy incarceration, he has now been labeled as a criminal by officials, clouding the narrative of his long-term suffering and the injustices he endured.
Vedam is currently held at an 1,800-bed facility managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in central Pennsylvania. A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security reiterated that individuals identified as "criminal illegal aliens" face stringent consequences in drawing attention to his case last year.
As the legal processes unfold, Vedam's struggles serve as a poignant reminder of the complexities interwoven into the American legal and immigration systems, particularly concerning individuals who have experienced profound injustices and their quests for redemption and belonging within society.
