Bishop James Tamayo was born October 23, 1949 in Brownsville, Texas. He was ordained to the priesthood June 11, 1976 at Corpus Christi Cathedral - Corpus Christi, Texas by Most Reverend Thomas J. Drury, D.D. He was ordained Titular Bishop of Ita and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston on March 10, 1993 at the Sam Houston Coliseum - Houston, Texas.

Bishop Tamayo was installed as the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Laredo on August 9, 2000. He has served as Chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Hispanic Affairs, Vice President, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., Board of Directors, the National Episcopal Advisor, Cursillo Movement and a member of the Committee on the Home Missions, the Liturgy Subcommittee on Spanish Language Text, the Bishops' Committee on Hispanic Affairs (1999- present), the Bishops' Subcommittee on Hispanic Liturgy (1999 - present), the Bishops' Committee on Pastoral Practices (1999 - present), the subcommittee on Youth of the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women & Youth (1996 - 1999), the USCCB International Policy Committee 1996-1999), the NCCB/USSS National Advisory Council (1996-1999), and the NCCB/USCCB Administrative Board (1996-1999).