President Donald Trump has nominated Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper and U.S. Marine, to serve as the next director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The announcement came Saturday via Truth Social, where Trump called Schroyer a "proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst."
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, a fellow Oklahoman, quickly endorsed the pick. Mullin highlighted Schroyer's 29-year career and his work on federal-state immigration enforcement. "President Trump made a great pick, and I'm confident Lance's strong leadership and firsthand experience will empower the men and women of ICE to deport criminal illegal aliens, secure the homeland, and protect the American people," Mullin wrote on X.
If confirmed by the Senate, Schroyer would take charge of an agency in the middle of a major expansion. Last year, Congress approved a one-time $75 billion funding package to add 12,000 officers and expand detention capacity. That's a big mandate, and it comes as the Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow mandatory immigration detention without bond hearings—even for some noncitizens who have lived in the U.S. for years.
ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration, so Schroyer's nomination is notable. He would replace former Director Todd Lyons, who resigned in late May. David Venturella, a former private prison executive, has been serving as acting director and is expected to stay until Schroyer is confirmed.
ICE has been busy during Trump's second term. The agency has conducted raids in several cities and even deployed to airports amid worsening unpaid TSA staff shortages. Schroyer's background as a Marine and state trooper suggests he'll bring a law-and-order approach to the role, but the confirmation process could be a battle.
