By Trendsetter Tribune 
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, a federal immigration judge denied bond for Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam, a 64-year-old man who was recently exonerated after spending 43 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Despite having his conviction overturned in August 2025, Vedam remains in federal custody at the Moshannon Valley ICE Processing Center as he fights a decades-old deportation order.
The ruling has sparked significant outcry from supporters, including local officials and legal experts, who argue that Vedam is a victim of a “profound injustice” compounded by rigid immigration enforcement.
The Ruling: Mandatory Detention and Public Safety
Immigration Judge Tamar Wilson, presiding virtually from Newark, New Jersey, based her decision on two primary factors:
- Jurisdiction and Mandatory Detention: Judge Wilson ruled that she lacked the jurisdiction to grant bond because of Vedam’s 1984 felony drug conviction (delivery of LSD). Under current immigration statutes, certain felonies trigger “mandatory detention,” meaning the court has limited discretion to release an individual.
- Danger to the Community: Even if jurisdiction were not an issue, Wilson agreed with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) arguments that Vedam remains a safety risk. “The fact he’s been a ‘model prisoner’ does not suggest that out in the general public he’s going to be safe,” the judge noted, adding that his long incarceration provided no recent “track record” in society.
The Exoneration vs. The Deportation
The irony of Vedam’s situation is central to his defense. His murder conviction was vacated after it was discovered that prosecutors had suppressed FBI ballistics evidence proving the bullets used in the 1980 killing could not have come from the weapon linked to him.
- The Drug Charge “Trap”: Vedam’s attorney, Ava Benach, argued that had Vedam only been convicted of the LSD charges in the 1980s, he would have been released by 1992 and likely would have obtained citizenship decades ago.
- The Exceptional Situation: Earlier this month, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) vacated Vedam’s original 1999 deportation order, calling his case an “exceptional situation.” While this reopened his case to be heard on its merits, it did not guarantee his release from detention.
Key Details of the Subu Vedam Case
| Category | Detail |
| Current Status | Detained at Moshannon Valley ICE Facility, Pennsylvania. |
| Original Conviction | 1983/1988 murder of Thomas Kinser (Overturned in 2025). |
| Drug Conviction | Delivery of LSD (approx. 1981); used as basis for 1999 deportation order. |
| Next Step | Appeal of the bond denial to the BIA (due by March 19, 2026). |
| Advocates | State College Mayor Ezra Nanes, Centre County First Assistant DA Joshua Andrews. |
“Resilient But Heartbroken”
Vedam’s family, including his sister Saraswathi Vedam, expressed deep disappointment, noting that they had planned to bring him home on October 3, 2025—the day he was released from state prison only to be immediately detained by ICE.
DHS officials have maintained a hard line, stating that “criminal illegal aliens are not welcome,” despite the fact that Vedam came to the U.S. legally as an infant and lived in State College for his entire life prior to his arrest.