Donald Trump nominates ex-state trooper Lance Schroyer as ICE director

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump has nominated Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper and US Marine with 29 years of law enforcement experience, to serve as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Schroyer is a newcomer to leading a federal agency, and his nomination is expected to face scrutiny during the Senate confirmation process, though Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin have praised his operational experience.
• If confirmed, Schroyer would replace acting ICE Director David Venturella, who has served since May following the departure of Todd Lyons amid criticism of ICE’s enforcement tactics and allegations of excessive force.
• ICE has faced intense scrutiny over its operations, including multiple deaths in custody and controversial enforcement actions, prompting calls for reform from human rights organizations and congressional Democrats.
• The agency has not had a Senate-confirmed director since 2017, and both Trump and Mullin have urged the Senate to expedite Schroyer’s confirmation to lead ICE amid ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.