[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Pages 29733-29734]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO SHERIFF JAMES HAYES

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to Sheriff 
James Hayes, who passed away on a recent hunting trip. Sheriff Hayes's 
law enforcement career began at the Etowah County Sheriff's Office in 
1972 as a deputy sheriff. In 1986, he was elected sheriff and was 
subsequently reelected to five more terms, distinguishing him as the 
longest-serving sheriff in Etowah County history. He was a graduate of 
the Hokes Bluff High School Class of 1965, and a member of the only 
undefeated football team in school history in 1964. Sheriff Hayes was a 
pillar of the law enforcement community, not only in Etowah County, but 
in the entire State of Alabama and the Nation. In 1994, he carried the 
distinguished title of president of the Alabama Sheriff's Association, 
serving both our State and sheriffs across the Nation with distinction. 
In the course of his career, Sheriff Hayes served on committees and 
boards throughout Etowah County and the State of Alabama. His unfailing 
leadership, and his unwavering love of public service, are examples for 
us all.
  During the course of my Senate career, Sheriff Hayes worked closely 
with me and my staff to bring about positive

[[Page 29734]]

change in Alabama. The accomplishment that I am perhaps most grateful 
to Sheriff Hayes for involves his vision for an immigration detention 
facility in the State of Alabama. In March of 1998, Sheriff Hayes 
started pursuing the expansion of the Etowah County Detention Facility. 
He had a vision for a long-term contract with the Federal Immigration 
Service, one that would increase the bed capacity in the State, and one 
that would serve to ensure that Federal immigration laws were more 
effectively enforced within the borders of our State. It is common 
knowledge that without bed space, you cannot arrest and deport illegal 
aliens. With the help of our office, he secured a 15-year agreement 
with the Immigration Service and an $8.4 million expansion grant. This 
grant added over 300 detention beds, more than doubling the number in 
the existing facility.
  When the Immigration Service turned over control of the facility to 
its New Orleans Field Office after September 11, 2001, Sheriff Hayes 
further demonstrated his commitment to a successful immigration 
enforcement system in Alabama by initiating a movement to return 
oversight for the Etowah County Federal Detention Facility to 
Immigration Services' Atlanta Field Office. He firmly believed that the 
beds would be used more effectively under the direction of the Atlanta 
Field Office, which was hundreds of miles closer and wanted to use the 
facility for short term, instead of long-term, immigration detainees. 
Just 2 weeks before his death, I received notification from the 
Immigration Service that his multiple year-long effort was not in vain. 
DHS had fully evaluated his position, and had decided to grant his 
request. My office was able to communicate the good news that his 
persistence had been met with success to Sheriff Hayes just before his 
passing.
  I am confident that Sheriff Hayes' diligent efforts over the last 
several years have ensured a more effective Federal partnership with 
law enforcement in Alabama for years to come. As I read the recent 
newspaper articles and messages reacting to Sheriff Hayes's death, I 
was touched to realize that the appreciation of Etowah County's 
citizens for Sheriff Hayes's unrelenting public service is only 
surpassed by their love for him as a husband, father, grandfather, 
brother and friend who will be missed tremendously. Alabama was indeed 
lucky to claim him as one of her own.
  So, in closing, I want to let Sheriff Hayes' family know how much I 
appreciate his service, his professionalism, and his dedication to the 
people of Etowah County and the State of Alabama. I know that words 
cannot adequately express the loss being felt right now in Etowah 
County, but we can all be assured that Etowah County and our State are 
better places because of Sheriff Hayes' leadership. Let his life be a 
example for those of us who continue to serve in public office.

                          ____________________