White House withdraws Schroyer's ICE director nomination
White House withdraws Schroyer's ICE director nomination after Senate opposition blocked his hearing.
Event / Politics
Trump ICE Director Nomination Withdrawal
The White House withdrew its nomination of Lance Schroyer as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on September 17, 2026, following Senate opposition led by Senator Rand Paul over concerns about ICE accountability and the nominee's federal agency experience.
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2026-09-18 to 2026-11-05 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 18 Sept, 00:23 UTC
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What happened
Immigration hardliners question Schroyer's lack of immigration enforcement experience
Immigration hawks and some Homeland Security officials cast doubt on Schroyer's nomination due to his lack of experience in immigration enforcement and leading a large federal agency. Despite his 29 years in law enforcement with the Oklahoma State Police and involvement in 287g partnerships with ICE, critics questioned whether he had the expertise needed for the position.
ICE lacks Senate-confirmed director for over 12 years
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration, a gap of more than 12 years. David Venturella was serving as acting director as of September 2026, having succeeded Todd Lyons in the role.
White House withdraws Lance Schroyer's nomination for ICE director
The White House withdrew its nomination of Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to serve as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on September 17, 2026. Schroyer had been nominated by President Donald Trump in late June 2026. He was working as an adviser and security detail for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Republican Senator Rand Paul blocks Schroyer ICE confirmation hearing
Senator Rand Paul, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, blocked the confirmation process for Schroyer by refusing to schedule a committee-level confirmation hearing. Paul requested additional details regarding federal investigations into shooting deaths of two Americans during ICE operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota in January 2026. Paul had a contentious relationship with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, having previously criticized Mullin during his confirmation hearing.
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