Trump nominates ex-Oklahoma trooper Lance Schroyer as ICE director

President Donald Trump has selected Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to lead the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Trump announced the nomination on his Truth Social platform, characterizing Schroyer as a "PATRIOT with real operational experience" and a "proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst."

Schroyer, a former U.S. Marine, hails from Oklahoma, the same state as the new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Mullin praised Schroyer's 29-year career and his collaborative work with federal and state partners on immigration enforcement programs.

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PATRIOT with real operational experience.

If confirmed, Schroyer will take the helm of ICE during a contentious period for immigration policy. The agency has been central to Trump's vision of mass deportations and has seen substantial growth, including the hiring of 12,000 officers and increased detention capacity funded by a $75 billion injection last year. This expansion has occurred alongside public concerns about immigration crackdowns, which have led to heightened tensions and clashes in American cities.

Schroyer's nomination fills a vacancy left by Todd Lyons, who resigned at the end of May. David Venturella, a former executive at a private prison operator, has been serving as acting head. ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration, reflecting the polarizing nature of immigration policy in the U.S.

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proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst.