Trump Nominates Former Oklahoma Trooper Lance Schroyer as ICE Director — Then Withdraws Him After Rand Paul Refuses a Hearing Over the Minneapolis Shootings
On June 27, 2026, President Donald Trump announced he intends to nominate Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper and U.S. Marine with roughly 29 years of law enforcement experience, to serve as Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Schroyer currently serves as a senior adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and previously led large-scale enforcement operations in Oklahoma under the 287(g) program. If confirmed by the Senate, he would become the first Senate-confirmed ICE director since 2017, ending a stretch in which the agency has operated under acting leadership. The pick, which followed the May resignation of former director Todd Lyons, drew immediate praise from Oklahoma and Republican officials, while analysts noted his relative lack of federal-agency experience is likely to be scrutinized at a confirmation hearing. Update (September 17, 2026): The White House withdrew Schroyer's nomination in a brief statement that gave no reason. Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul had declined to schedule a confirmation hearing until DHS provided an update on its internal investigation into the January fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. Paul said he learned of the withdrawal when it was made public. David Venturella continues to perform the duties of ICE director; the agency has not had a Senate-confirmed director since 2017.
“I don't have a concern with who the nominee was. I had asked them to give me an update on the internal investigation into civilian deaths. And I'm still waiting.”