Trump says he'll nominate Lance Schroyer to lead ICE
President Donald Trump said on June 27, 2026, that he will nominate Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If the Senate confirms him, Schroyer would head the agency at the center of the administration's deportation campaign and its latest leadership shake-up. The announcement puts a law-enforcement veteran atop an agency that has not had a Senate-confirmed director in more than a decade.
Key Takeaways
- Trump announced the intended nomination of Lance Schroyer on June 27, 2026.
- Schroyer is a former Oklahoma state trooper with decades of law-enforcement experience.
- ICE has operated without a Senate-confirmed director for more than a decade.
- The agency remains at the center of the administration's mass-deportation push.
- Schroyer would succeed acting leadership following recent ICE director departures.
Who Is Lance Schroyer?
Schroyer built his career in Oklahoma law enforcement. Trump described him as a proven leader with more than 29 years of experience, according to reporting on the announcement.
His background as a state trooper marks a break from recent ICE leaders drawn from inside the federal immigration bureaucracy. That profile could appeal to an administration that has repeatedly reshuffled agency leadership while pressing for faster removals.
Why Does the ICE Director Role Matter Now?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement sits inside the Department of Homeland Security and carries out immigration arrests, detention, and deportations. Under Trump, the agency has been the operational front of a sweeping deportation campaign that has drawn national scrutiny and political pushback.
ICE has cycled through acting directors in recent months. Todd Lyons stepped down in spring 2026, and David Venturella later took over in an acting capacity. A Senate-confirmed pick would aim to bring steadier leadership to a post that has not had a confirmed director since the Obama administration.
What Happens Next for Schroyer's Nomination?
Trump's announcement is a nomination, not a final appointment. The Senate must confirm Schroyer before he can formally serve as ICE director.
Until then, acting officials can continue running day-to-day operations, a pattern ICE has followed for years. Confirmation fights could focus on enforcement tactics, detention capacity, and the agency's role in communities where immigration operations have escalated.
How Does This Fit the Broader Immigration Crackdown?
The pick lands as Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, another Oklahoma figure, oversees DHS and ICE. Mullin has signaled interest in adjusting how enforcement is carried out while keeping pressure on removals.
For readers tracking how federal power, data, and enforcement tools intersect with public policy, see more coverage in our Future Tech & AI Wonders section. Primary reporting on the nomination is available from CNN, The Washington Post, and Al Jazeera.