Subramanyam "Subu" Vedam, the State College man who was released from prison after his conviction for first-degree murder was overturned last year, only to be taken into ICE custody, could soon be released from the Moshannon Valley Processing Center.
Adam Panopoulos, a federal immigration judge, granted Vedam relief from his deportation order Thursday morning. The judge, based in a New Jersey courtroom, heard nearly four hours of online testimony Wednesday, mostly from Vedam and his sister, Saraswathi Vedam.
Panopoulos ruled that Vedam demonstrated "genuine rehabilitation" during his 44 years in prison and ICE custody and shows no risk of harm to the community.
The Department of Homeland Security sought to remove Vedam to India based on drug trafficking charges from the early 1980s, including pleading no contest to selling small amounts of LSD.
It's not yet clear if DHS will appeal the decision. The deadline to do so is May 4.
A spokesperson for Vedam's family said his attorneys will file a bond request seeking his release from federal detention by Friday, and that a bond hearing will be scheduled to consider his release.
*This is a developing story that will be updated.*
