White House Withdraws ICE Director Nominee

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White House Withdraws ICE Director Nominee

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The White House officially withdrew Lance Schroyer’s nomination to be the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday, September 17, 2026. President Donald Trump had announced Schroyer’s nomination in June 2026, touting his “real operational experience” and “decades of experience locking up the worst of the worst.”

Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper who served 29 years with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and in the U.S. Marine Corps, was serving as a senior advisor to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin at the time of his nomination. Mullin, who assumed his role as Secretary of Homeland Security in March 2026, had advocated for Schroyer’s appointment. Schroyer had also previously been part of Mullin’s security detail when Mullin was a senator.

However, Schroyer’s nomination encountered significant hurdles in Congress, particularly from Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Senator Paul had refused to schedule a confirmation hearing for Schroyer until the Department of Homeland Security provided information he had requested regarding investigations into civilian deaths during ICE enforcement operations. Critics also raised concerns about Schroyer’s limited experience specifically within immigration enforcement and his lack of prior leadership experience in a major law enforcement agency like ICE.

The withdrawal means ICE will continue to operate without a Senate-confirmed director, a situation that has persisted since 2017. David Venturella is currently serving as the acting director for the agency.

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