A Jamaican national has been sentenced to six months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. Tanya James, 53, received the sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman in federal court in Boston. Following her prison term, James will be subject to deportation proceedings.
James pleaded guilty in July 2025 to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien, following an indictment by a federal grand jury in June 2025.
Records show that James was previously convicted in 2003 for possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base. She was ordered removed from the United States and deported to Jamaica in 2004. In a separate incident, she was again ordered removed and deported to Jamaica in 2012 after another removal order was issued in 2011.
According to court documents, James faced motor vehicle charges in March 2024. On or about May 12, 2025, immigration officials took her into custody when it was discovered she had returned to the United States without authorization.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.”
