US judge rules against deporting man whose murder conviction was overturned after 44 years in prison

April 3, 2026

TL;DR

A US immigration judge ruled against deporting Subramanyam Vedam, who was convicted of murder and spent 44 years in prison before his conviction was overturned.
The judge cited Vedam's proven rehabilitation and dedication to enriching others' lives, along with his strong family ties.
Vedam, who was 19 when Thomas Kinser disappeared and was later found shot, has maintained his innocence.
Despite the overturned murder conviction, the government wants to deport Vedam based on past drug distribution convictions.
The Department of Homeland Security has one month to appeal the judge's decision.
Vedam was days away from becoming a naturalized US citizen when he was arrested.
Prosecutors declined to retry Vedam for murder due to the passage of time and the difficulty of the case, noting 44 years was a sufficient sentence for a 19-year-old offender.
The judge's decision was based on Vedam's efforts in self-improvement and community engagement.
Vedam's lawyer plans to seek his release on bond, with possibilities for living with relatives and pursuing a doctoral program.

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