U.S. courts keep deportation of Indian-origin man who spent 43 years in jail earlier than homicide case overturned

Two separate courts have ordered immigration officers to not deport a Pennsylvania man who spent 4 many years in jail earlier than his homicide conviction was overturned.

Subramanyam Vedam, 64, is at the moment detained at a short-term holding centre in Alexandria, Louisiana, that is outfitted with an airstrip for deportations. Vedam, referred to as ‘Subu’, was transferred there from central Pennsylvania final week, kinfolk mentioned.

An immigration choose stayed his deportation on Thursday (November 6, 2025) till the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether or not to assessment his case. That may take a number of months.

Mr. Vedam’s attorneys additionally acquired a keep the identical day within the U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania, however mentioned that case could also be on maintain given the immigration courtroom ruling.

Mr. Vedam got here to the U.S. legally from India as an toddler and grew up in State College, the place his father taught at Penn State. He was serving a life sentence in a pal’s 1980 demise earlier than his conviction was overturned this yr.

He was launched from state jail on October 3, solely to be taken straight into immigration custody.

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is searching for to deport Mr. Vedam over his no contest plea to prices of LSD supply, filed when he was about 20. His attorneys argue that the 4 many years he wrongly spent in jail, the place he earned levels and tutored fellow inmates, ought to outweigh the drug case.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson mentioned on Monday (November 3) that the reversal within the homicide case doesn’t negate the drug conviction.

“Having a single conviction vacated won’t cease ICE’s enforcement of the federal immigration regulation,” Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, mentioned in an e-mail.

Mr. Vedam’s sister mentioned on Monday (November 3) that the household is relieved “that two totally different judges have agreed that Subu’s deportation is unwarranted whereas his effort to re-open his immigration case remains to be pending”.

“We’re additionally hopeful that Board of Immigration Appeals will finally agree that Subu’s deportation would signify one other untenable injustice inflicted on a person who not solely endured 43 years in a maximum-security jail for a criminal offense he did not commit, however has additionally lived within the U.S. since he was 9-months-old,” Saraswathi Vedam mentioned.