An immigration judge ruled Thursday against the deportation of a Pennsylvania man who had been detained by federal agents immediately after his release from prison, where he spent 43 years before his murder conviction was overturned.

Subramanyam Vedam, a 64-year-old green card holder who immigrated from India as an infant, was exonerated in October. A judge vacated his murder conviction after undisclosed ballistics evidence from his trials came to light. The Centre County District Attorney’s Office subsequently declined to pursue a retrial.

The day after charges were dropped, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Mr. Vedam. The agency cited a 1999 deportation order linked to a felony drug conviction and characterized Mr. Vedam as a career criminal. He has since been held at a facility in central Pennsylvania for six months.

Judge Adam G. Panopoulos, in his ruling, determined that Mr. Vedam could remain in the United States, finding him to be a “person of good moral character” who did not pose a threat. The judge noted Mr. Vedam's efforts to establish a literacy program during his incarceration and his strong familial ties within the country. Judge Panopoulos stated that the negative impact of Mr. Vedam's past actions from the early 1980s had diminished, allowing him to forge a new identity.

The decision comes amidst heightened efforts by the administration to increase deportations, particularly targeting individuals with criminal records. Immigration officials have frequently stated their focus on removing individuals deemed a threat to public safety. The Department of Homeland Security, in a statement following the ruling, affirmed that a single vacated conviction would not deter ICE from enforcing federal immigration law. ICE did not directly respond to inquiries about a potential appeal.

Mr. Vedam was arrested in 1982 in State College, Pennsylvania, accused of murdering Thomas Kinser, who was found with a gunshot wound. In the 1980s, he also pleaded no contest to and was convicted of possessing LSD with intent to distribute. His immigration lawyer, Ava Benach, described the distribution as "small scale." Mr. Vedam testified Wednesday that his drug involvement was due to youthful indiscretion and choices he would not repeat today.

Mr. Vedam’s case was unique due to his eligibility for a specialized form of deportation relief. This relief is available to certain green card holders who entered plea deals for crimes before April 1997. Kerry E. Doyle, a former top ICE lawyer now at Green and Spiegel, described it as a "niche form of relief that's available for very few people."

Family members expressed gratitude for the ruling. Saraswathi Vedam, his sister, issued a statement praising Judge Panopoulos for providing justice and acknowledging her brother as "the honorable, compassionate, conscientious man he has always been."