Donald Trump announced on June 27, 2026, that he will nominate Lance Schroyer to be the next director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. Schroyer is a former Oklahoma state trooper and United States Marine with more than 29 years of law enforcement experience [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. Trump praised Schroyer as "a PATRIOT with real operational experience, and proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst," saying he has what it takes to detain and deport "illegal alien criminals, including murders, rapists, and drug traffickers at a rate never seen before" [1].
Schroyer will replace acting ICE Director David Venturella, who has led the agency since May 2026 after Todd Lyons resigned to spend more time with family [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. Lyons served as acting director from March 2025 until May 2026 [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9]. The ICE director position has remained unconfirmed by the Senate since early 2017, with all leaders since then serving in an acting capacity [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9]. Markwayne Mullin, who became Secretary of Homeland Security in March 2026 after Kristi Noem was dismissed, supports Schroyer's nomination [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9]. Mullin said Schroyer "will play a vital role in helping deliver on the President’s mandate from the American people to target, arrest, and deport illegal aliens." He noted Schroyer’s operational experience leading large-scale immigration enforcement in Oklahoma under the 287g program, a state-federal partnership [1].
Trump's administration claims to have the highest daily arrest rate by ICE and Customs and Border Protection compared to any prior presidency [1, 7, 8]. Trump and Mullin emphasized Schroyer's ability to detain and deport dangerous criminals at unprecedented levels [1, 2, 7, 8]. Mullin called for swift Senate confirmation, saying, "It has been 11 years since @DHSgov has had a Senate-confirmed @ICEgov Director" [6]. Advocates argue the vacancy has hampered agency leadership.
The nomination comes amid controversy following fatal shootings of two US citizens by ICE agents in Minneapolis in January 2026, which sparked protests over ICE tactics [1, 5, 6, 8]. The Trump administration has faced scrutiny over its aggressive immigration enforcement policies, with key figures like Kristi Noem, Todd Lyons, and Gregory Bovino playing central roles in the mass deportation campaign [3, 4, 5, 6, 9].
The next step requires Senate confirmation of Schroyer. The agency has lacked a confirmed director for 11 years. Markwayne Mullin urges the Senate to act swiftly to confirm the nominee [1, 2, 5, 6, 8].
