Subramanyam Vedam: From Injustice to Immigration Trouble
PHILADELPHIA — After waiting more than four decades to clear his name in the killing of his friend Thomas Kinser in 1980, Subramanyam Vedam was set to walk free from a Pennsylvania prison this month. However, upon his scheduled release, Vedam was instead taken into federal custody under a 1999 deportation order.
Vedam, along with Kinser, were both 19-year-olds whose parents worked at Penn State University. Despite being the last person seen with Kinser, Vedam was convicted twice of murder without any solid evidence, such as witnesses or motive, leading to a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
In August of this year, a judge threw out the conviction after Vedam’s lawyers presented new ballistics evidence that prosecutors had failed to disclose. But this moment of triumph was short-lived; instead of returning home, the now 64-year-old Vedam found himself facing immigration court.
His deportation hinges on a past drug conviction from the 1980s, which his current lawyers argue should be overshadowed by the decades he lost to wrongful imprisonment. “He was someone who’s suffered a profound injustice. Those 43 years aren’t a blank slate; he lived a remarkable experience in prison,” stated immigration lawyer Ava Benach.
After years of navigating the tumultuous intersections of criminal justice and immigration law, Vedam’s experience highlights significant systemic issues, particularly regarding rehabilitation, fairness in trials, and the harsh realities of automatic deportations under current immigration policies.
In both court appearances and interactions with immigration officials, challenges have persisted. Following the recent decision by a Centre County judge to throw out his conviction, Vedam’s next legal battles will determine his fate amidst a landscape of stricter immigration enforcement. Although he had hoped to resume life after prison, the new legal complications reveal how challenging the path to true justice can be.
Vedam’s family remains hopeful as they work to pursue justice for him. His sister has expressed that despite the setbacks, her brother maintains patience and resilience in the face of continued uncertainty. “He understands that sometimes things don’t make sense; you have to stay the course and keep hoping that truth and justice will triumph,” she remarked.
