Trump nominates former Oklahoma trooper Lance Schroyer as ICE director

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has nominated Lance Schroyer to serve as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper with more than 29 years of law-enforcement experience, currently works as a senior adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. He would replace Todd Lyons, who assumed the post in March 2025 and left last month.

Three sources familiar with the decision said Mullin has advocated for Schroyer’s appointment for some time. While Schroyer has extensive local law-enforcement background, he has not previously worked for ICE, a point noted by two sources as potentially surprising to agency personnel. Acting director David Venturella will remain in charge until the Senate confirms Schroyer, according to a Department of Homeland Security official.

Mullin praised the nomination, stating, "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." Trump also urged the Senate to confirm the nominee without delay, writing, "The Senate must CONFIRM Lance, IMMEDIATELY — Do not delay."

The nomination follows two recent Supreme Court rulings that affect the administration’s immigration policies, including a decision that removes certain legal protections for Haitian and Syrian migrants and another that eases restrictions on asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Department of Homeland Security’s watchdog announced new reviews of ICE detainee deaths and use-of-force practices after 20 deaths were reported in ICE detention facilities this year.