A long-tenured sheriff in Lee County, Alabama lost his primary re-election bid last night after notably opposing the Trump Administration on immigration policy.
Jay Jones, a 30-year incumbent, lost re-election to Cameron “Cam” Hunt, a former deputy who narrowly defeated his former boss with roughly 51 percent of the vote. The outcome marked the first change in Lee County sheriff since Jones took office in 1998, when he began serving his first of seven terms.
Jones started his law enforcement career in 1975 as a deputy with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office while a student at Auburn University. He later served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Auburn University and Southern Union State Community College.
Throughout his tenure, Jones described his office as maintaining partnerships with federal agencies, including regular notifications to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when illegal aliens were in custody, honoring lawful detainers, facilitating transfers to federal custody, and supporting removal proceedings when permitted by law.
The sheriff campaign was defined by a dispute over immigration enforcement, however. Hunt criticized Jones’s office for not participating in the federal 287(g) program, an optional agreement that authorizes trained local law enforcement officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions under ICE supervision.
Hunt further noted that Lee County was one of 31 sheriff’s offices in Alabama not participating in the program and argued that the absence made the county less safe. Following a deputy-involved shooting incident in April 2026 involving an individual Hunt described as allegedly undocumented, Hunt reiterated his criticism and pledged that, if elected, he would ensure Lee County joined the 287(g) program.
The moment Cam Hunt secured victory in the race for Lee County sheriff…
According to unofficial results, Hunt received 9,301 votes, defeating incumbent Sheriff Jay Jones, who received 8,994 votes.
https://t.co/UVux8afY3H pic.twitter.com/KI02Anf1p6
— Colin Scroggins (@cnaw_colin) May 20, 2026
Jones responded by defending his office’s record and rejecting the criticism as misleading. He stated that participation in 287(g) involves additional administrative responsibilities and potential liability costs. Jones maintained that the lack of a formal 287(g) agreement had not prevented effective cooperation with ICE.
The 287(g) program, established under federal law, allows local agencies to enter into agreements with the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement support. During the Trump administration, the program received renewed emphasis as part of broader efforts to enhance cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities to apprehend individuals present in the country illegally.
Tensions within the department escalated in October 2025 when Jones fired Hunt after Hunt announced his candidacy for sheriff without first resigning from his deputy position. Jones stated that the decision to campaign rather than resign prompted the termination.
Ultimately, Hunt managed to secure a narrow victory and is set to become the first new Lee County sheriff in three decades.
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