40-Year Wait: Subramanyam Vedam's Exoneration Leads to Immigration Battle

Thu Oct 30 2025 16:31:57 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Subramanyam Vedam, who spent 43 years imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, faces new challenges in an immigration court after his murder conviction was overturned due to new evidence.

Subramanyam Vedam, wrongfully convicted of murder in 1980, was exonerated this month after 43 years in prison. However, as he prepared to return home, he was taken into federal custody due to a longstanding deportation order. Facing another uphill legal battle, Vedam's situation highlights the complexities of justice and immigration policies.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — After spending 43 years trying to clear his name for a 1980 murder he didn't commit, Subramanyam Vedam was primed to walk free this month. The 64-year-old, who came to the U.S. from India as an infant, found himself facing a new battle in immigration court after being taken into custody instead of returning home.

Vedam, alongside Thomas Kinser, were two 19-year-olds connected to Penn State University faculty. Vedam was charged and twice convicted for Kinser's murder despite a complete lack of witnesses or a clear motive.

In August, a judge dismissed Vedam's conviction after his legal team uncovered new ballistic evidence that had never previously been disclosed. This revelation was critical for his exoneration.

Yet, as Vedam's sister prepared to welcome him back on October 3, he was instead taken to federal custody due to a deportation order from 1999.

Amid rising tensions regarding immigration policies during the Trump presidency, Vedam's legal team must now persuade the court that the years of wrongful imprisonment outweigh a previous drug conviction from the 1980s. He has suffered a profound injustice, said immigration lawyer Ava Benach, highlighting Vedam's significant contributions while in prison, such as tutoring hundreds of fellow inmates.

Vedam's attorney is advocating for his case, arguing the constitutional violations and the extensive time served for a crime he didn't commit. However, immigration authorities are opposing efforts to allow Vedam to stay in the U.S.

The situation grows more complicated as Vedam must navigate through an immigration court that may not respect the decades spent imprisoned despite the resolution of his wrongful conviction.

As the saga unfolds, Vedam's case continues to draw attention, raising broader questions about justice, legality, and compassion within the immigration system.