Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam has recently been exonerated after serving 43 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. New evidence led authorities to clear him of the 1980 murder of his former roommate, Tom Kinser, whose body was found with a bullet wound in a wooded area. Vedam, who had asked Kinser for a ride on the day of his disappearance, was convicted largely without physical evidence linking him to the crime.
Despite his exoneration, Vedam was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shortly after his release, due to a deportation order stemming from his past convictions, including a drug-related offense. Vedam’s family is now engaged in a legal battle against this deportation, emphasizing his lack of ties to India, where ICE intends to deport him. He moved to the U.S. as an infant and has no significant connections to India, with remaining relatives being distant.
Vedam’s sister, Saraswathi Vedam, expressed concern about the harsh conditions he now faces in detention, contrasting them with the stable environment he had in prison. She noted that prior to his release, Vedam was a mentor to fellow inmates and had developed relationships with staff. He has shared with his family that they should focus on the positive aspect of his exoneration while navigating this new challenge.
The family plans to highlight Vedam’s years of good behavior and educational achievements during his imprisonment as they fight the deportation order. They argue it is unjust to send him to a country where he has few connections after having wrongly lost decades of his life. His attorney has also made a statement stressing that deporting him now would represent another grave injustice.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgz85g6pj0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss