Trump says he will nominate Lance Schroyer as next ICE director | Trump administration
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-06-27 16:01:00 — www.theguardian.com
Trump Nominates Lance Schroyer for ICE Director, Makes Sweeping Claims About Immigration Enforcement
Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will nominate Lance Schroyer as the next director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), highlighting Schroyer’s law enforcement background in Oklahoma and military service. In a Truth Social post, Trump claimed Schroyer “has over 29 YEARS of Law Enforcement experience in Oklahoma — A State where I WON all 77 Counties in 2016, 2020, and 2024! Lance is a former Oklahoma State Trooper, and United States Marine.” Trump described Schroyer as “a PATRIOT with real operational experience, and proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst” and praised his “firsthand experience getting Illegal Aliens OFF our streets.”
Exaggerated Claims on Enforcement
Trump asserted that Schroyer “has what it takes to DETAIN AND DEPORT Illegal Alien Criminals, including murders, rapists, and drug traffickers at a rate never seen before!” He further claimed, “our Administration has the HIGHEST Daily Arrest Rate by ICE and CBP than ANY other President, by far.” These statements continue Trump’s pattern of making sweeping, unverified claims about immigration enforcement and his administration’s record.
Context and Controversy
Since early 2017, ICE has operated without a Senate-confirmed director. Trump has made immigration crackdowns a central focus, but rights groups argue that these policies violate civil liberties and create unsafe environments for ethnic minorities. ICE’s aggressive tactics have sparked controversy, particularly after ICE agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minnesota in January, leading to nationwide protests.
Senate Confirmation and Policy Impact
Both Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin called on the Senate to quickly confirm Schroyer. Mullin emphasized Schroyer’s operational experience under the 287g program, which delegates federal immigration enforcement powers to local officers. Mullin also noted that “it has been 11 years” since the Senate last confirmed an ICE director.
Fact-Checking Trump’s Statements
Trump’s repeated claims about record-breaking arrest rates and the effectiveness of his administration’s enforcement efforts have often been challenged by independent fact-checkers. While ICE and CBP arrest statistics have fluctuated over the years, there is no publicly available evidence supporting Trump’s assertion that his administration achieved the “highest daily arrest rate” compared to all previous presidents.
Conclusion
Trump’s nomination of Lance Schroyer as ICE director is accompanied by characteristic boasts about immigration enforcement and his administration’s record. As the Senate considers Schroyer’s confirmation, Trump’s statements highlight ongoing debates about the accuracy of his claims and the broader impact of his immigration policies.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/27/trump-nomination-ice-director-lance-schroyer