Judge to Decide on Deportation of Exonerated Man

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Federal Immigration Judge is scheduled to hold a hearing next Wednesday to decide if Subramanyam Vedam, a 64-year-old State College man whose murder conviction was recently overturned after 40 years in prison, will be deported to India. Vedam is currently detained at the Moshannon Valley ICE Processing Center in Philipsburg due to a 1999 deportation order related to a prior drug conviction.

Why it matters

Vedam's case highlights the complex legal issues surrounding deportation orders, especially for individuals who have been exonerated of serious crimes after serving long prison sentences. The outcome of the hearing could determine whether Vedam is released from detention or faces deportation to India despite his overturned conviction.

The details

Vedam was convicted of murder in 1986 and spent 40 years in prison before his conviction was overturned earlier this year. However, he remains detained at the Moshannon Valley ICE Processing Center due to a 1999 deportation order related to a prior drug conviction. The upcoming hearing will determine if the judge will waive the deportation order in light of Vedam's exoneration and decades of rehabilitation.

• The Federal Immigration Judge is scheduled to hold a hearing on Wednesday, March 31, 2026.
• If the judge rules in Vedam's favor, he could be released from the Moshannon Valley ICE Processing Center as early as Thursday, April 1, 2026.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Wednesday, March 31, 2026 whether or not to waive the deportation order against Vedam.