Trump nominates Oklahoma law enforcement veteran Lance Schroyer as permanent ICE director

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, June 27, that he is nominating Oklahoma law enforcement veteran Lance Schroyer to serve as the next permanent director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The announcement came in a Truth Social post in which Trump praised Schroyer's decades of experience and urged the Senate to move quickly on his confirmation. 

If confirmed, Schroyer will replace Acting Director David Venturella, who assumed the role earlier this month after succeeding Todd Lyons. The nomination comes as immigration enforcement remains one of the administration's top priorities.

Trump touts Lance Schroyer's law enforcement experience

Trump introduced Schroyer as a longtime law enforcement officer with nearly three decades of experience in Oklahoma.

"Lance has over 29 YEARS of Law Enforcement experience in Oklahoma, A State where I WON all 77 Counties in 2016, 2020, and 2024!" Trump wrote.

The president described Schroyer as a former Oklahoma State Trooper and United States Marine, calling him "a PATRIOT with real operational experience."

"He is a PATRIOT with real operational experience, and a proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst, including spearheading 287g Law Enforcement partnerships with ICE!" Trump continued.

He also highlighted Schroyer's experience working with immigration enforcement, saying he has "firsthand experience getting Illegal Aliens OFF our streets." Trump added that, like him and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Schroyer "LOVES the men and women of ICE."

Trump urges Senate to confirm Lance Schroyer

The president also used the announcement to call for swift Senate action on Schroyer's nomination.

According to Trump, Schroyer "has what it takes to DETAIN AND DEPORT Illegal Alien Criminals, including murders, rapists, and drug traffickers at a rate never seen before!"

Trump went on to defend his administration's immigration record, writing, "Remember, our Administration has the HIGHEST Daily Arrest Rate by ICE and CBP than ANY other President, by far. It's not even close!" He concluded by urging lawmakers to act without delay.

"The Senate must CONFIRM Lance, IMMEDIATELY, Do not delay. Together, we will MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN."

Markwayne Mullin calls Lance Schroyer a 'great pick'

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also welcomed the nomination, calling Schroyer "a great pick" in a post on X.

"Lance will play a vital role in helping deliver on the President's mandate from the American people to target, arrest, and deport illegal aliens," Mullin wrote.

He said Schroyer is coming "straight from the operational field" and has worked alongside state and federal partners through Oklahoma's 287(g) program to remove undocumented immigrants.

"I’m confident Lance’s strong leadership and firsthand experience will empower the men and women of ICE to deport criminal illegal aliens, secure the homeland, and protect the American people," Mullin added.

Noting that it had been 11 years since ICE last had a Senate-confirmed director, Mullin also urged lawmakers to move quickly on the nomination.

Schroyer's nomination comes during a tense period for the agency, with protests continuing in multiple cities following two fatal ICE shootings in Minneapolis in January.

If confirmed by the Senate, Schroyer would become the agency's permanent director after more than a decade without a Senate-confirmed leader.