After serving 43 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Subramanyam Subu Vedam was finally free. New evidence exonerated him earlier this month for the murder of his former roommate. However, before he could be reunited with family, he was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which aims to deport him to India, a country he has not lived in since he was a baby. His legal team is now fighting the deportation order. In a touching moment, Vedam expressed hope, stating, I want us to focus on the win, referring to his exoneration.

Mr. Vedam was convicted over four decades ago for the murder of his roommate, a crime he consistently denied committing. Despite no physical evidence linking him to the murder, he faced a life sentence and years of appeals followed until recently when new evidence surfaced. With the murder conviction overturned, his family is now focused on the threat of deportation, which they argue could rob him of a future with his loved ones in the US. Vedam's life is now a blend of relief for his innocence and uncertainty for his future as he navigates this startling new chapter.