As a result of her membership of the ACP and various associated activities, in 1948 Jones was arrested, and subsequently incarcerated on Ellis Island with the threat of being deported to Trinidad, which was then still a Crown Colony.
As a result of her membership of CPUSA and various associated activities, in 1948 Jones was arrested and sentenced to the first of four spells in prison. Incarcerated on Ellis Island, she was threatened with being deported to Trinidad, which was then still a Crown Colony.