President Donald Trump announced Saturday the nomination of Lance Schroyer, a veteran state law enforcement officer from Oklahoma, to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The move signals a continuation of the administration's aggressive posture on deportations and border enforcement.
Schroyer spent more than 29 years in law enforcement in Oklahoma before joining the Department of Homeland Security as a senior advisor to Secretary Markwayle Mullin. He will replace Todd Lyons, who held the position for roughly two months before stepping down last month.
Trump used his announcement to emphasize ICE's role in carrying out mass deportation plans. "Lance Schroyer has what it takes to DETAIN AND DEPORT Illegal Alien Criminals," the president wrote on Truth Social, calling him a patriot with operational experience and decades spent "locking up the worst of the worst."
The selection raised eyebrows among some observers. Schroyer's background is in local law enforcement, not the federal immigration system. Two sources familiar with the nomination told NBC News that ICE rank-and-file officers and agents may view his lack of agency-specific experience as unexpected.
Mullin, the Homeland Security chief, confirmed he had long backed Schroyer for the role. In a statement Saturday, he praised Trump's choice and predicted Schroyer would help execute the administration's deportation agenda. "With over 29 years of law enforcement experience, Lance will play a vital role in helping deliver on the President's mandate from the American people to target, arrest, and deport illegal aliens," Mullin said.
David Venturella will continue as acting director until Schroyer wins Senate confirmation. Both Trump and Mullin called for swift action on the nomination, with the president urging the Senate to "CONFIRM Lance, IMMEDIATELY."
No ICE director has been confirmed by the Senate since the second Obama administration, highlighting the challenge facing Schroyer's nomination.
The timing comes as Trump's immigration enforcement push gains legal momentum. This week, the Supreme Court removed legal protections for thousands of Haitian and Syrian immigrants in the U.S., clearing the way for deportations. On the same day, the court ruled in favor of Trump administration measures making it easier to restrict asylum seekers at the southern border.
Under Trump's watch, ICE and Border Patrol operations have grown more aggressive. In Minneapolis alone, agents were involved in two separate shootings that killed civilians Renee Good and Alex Pretti. On Thursday, the DHS Office of Inspector General launched two separate investigations into ICE's detention practices, including a review of mounting deaths in custody. There have been 20 ICE detainee deaths so far this year, prompting questions about use-of-force protocols in agency facilities.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Schroyer's appointment signals Trump is doubling down on aggressive enforcement rather than changing course on ICE's controversial recent record."
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