Dominican man deported last year tries his luck again in St. John

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A native of the Dominican Republic who was deported from the United States in February of 2024, resurfaced in the territory about a year later.

Joan Tavarez Bueno, 33, of the Dominican Republic, was charged with illegally entering the United States after being previously removed, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith said.

According to court documents, on March 10, 2025, Tavarez Bueno was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by law enforcement after Homeland Security Investigations received information that a possible non-citizen was traveling from St. John by ferry and arriving at the Red Hook Ferry Terminal in St. Thomas.

Agents observed an individual matching Tavarez Bueno’s description exiting the Red Hook Ferry Terminal and entering a vehicle parked at the terminal.

Agents later stopped the vehicle and detained Tavarez Bueno.

A records check confirmed that Tavarez Bueno was in the United States illegally and had been removed previously from the United States on February 13, 2024.

If convicted, Tavarez Bueno faces up to two years in prison.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the National Park Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Payne.

United States Attorney Smith reminds the public that a criminalcomplaint is merely
an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt in a court of law.