Two courts have stepped in to stop the deportation of Subramanyam Vedam, a Pennsylvania man who spent over 40 years in prison for a murder conviction that was recently overturned. At 64, he was brought to America as a baby and is considered a legal permanent resident. Known as “Subu” by family, Vedam was convicted in 1983 but has always claimed he is innocent.
After being released from prison on October 3, he was taken straight into immigration custody. Currently, he is in a short-term facility in Louisiana that has an airstrip for deportations. An immigration judge has paused his deportation case while the Bureau of Immigration Appeals reviews it, which may take months. His lawyers also secured a stay from a district court in Pennsylvania, but it’s unclear if that will hold.
Vedam was sentenced to life for murder, plus additional years for a drug offense. His lawyers argue that four decades in prison should outweigh his drug conviction. According to the Department of Homeland Security, even though his murder conviction was overturned, the drug plea remains a concern for ICE.
The case reflects a larger issue in America’s immigration system. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, nearly 10% of people in immigration detention are there due to past convictions, some of which may have been wrongful or outdated.
Saraswathi Vedam, Subu’s sister, hopes the Board of Immigration Appeals will view the situation differently. She emphasizes the injustice of deporting someone who has spent over four decades in prison for a crime he did not commit and who has lived in the U.S. since infancy.
As more wrongful conviction cases emerge, the conversation about fair treatment and immigration laws continues to grow. It is vital to consider the long-term consequences of incarceration on individuals and their families, especially for those wrongfully convicted.
For additional context, the recent increase in wrongful conviction awareness has been noted in social media trends, where hashtags advocating for justice are gaining attention. This case serves as another reminder of these critical conversations surrounding justice and immigration.
For further reading, you can check out a related article on the topic here.
