Trump nominates former Oklahoma state trooper to head ICE : NPR
NPR Topics: Politics — 2026-06-27 17:01:00 — www.npr.org
President Trump Touts ICE Nominee Amid Scrutiny of Aggressive Immigration Tactics
President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he is nominating Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper and U.S. Marine, to serve as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump described Schroyer as a “PATRIOT with real operational experience, and proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst.” Trump also emphasized Schroyer’s support for the agency, stating, “He LOVES the men and women of ICE.”
This nomination comes after months of heightened scrutiny over ICE’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. The agency has faced criticism for its approach, particularly following the resignation of Todd Lyons as acting ICE director at the end of May. Since then, David Venturella, a longtime ICE official and former executive at a private prison corporation, has been serving as acting director.
If confirmed, Schroyer would join Secretary Markwayne Mullin, another Oklahoman and former congressman, in implementing the Trump administration’s controversial immigration crackdown. Mullin praised the nomination, highlighting Schroyer’s “over 29 years of law enforcement experience” and his role in delivering on what Mullin described as “the President’s mandate from the American people to target, arrest, and deport illegal aliens.” Schroyer is currently the senior adviser to Mullin and oversees coordination of immigration enforcement, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump’s statements on Truth Social continue his pattern of using strong, sometimes inflammatory language to characterize his administration’s approach to immigration enforcement. By describing Schroyer as someone with “decades of experience locking up the worst of the worst,” Trump reinforces a narrative that frames immigration enforcement primarily as a matter of public safety and criminality, despite ongoing debates about the humanitarian and legal implications of ICE’s tactics.
ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration, and both Trump and Mullin have called for a swift confirmation process for Schroyer.
Conclusion
Trump’s nomination of Lance Schroyer to lead ICE signals a continued commitment to aggressive immigration enforcement. His public praise for Schroyer and the agency underscores the administration’s hardline stance, even as ICE faces ongoing scrutiny for its controversial tactics. The Senate’s response to this nomination will be closely watched as the debate over U.S. immigration policy continues.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2026/06/27/nx-s1-5873485/trump-nominates-lance-schroyer-ice-director