Trump Announces Pick for ICE Director Amid Chaos Within the Agency
The long-awaited announcement about who will head up a critical federal government agency came on Saturday when President Donald Trump revealed his choice for the direction of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Read on for a look at who Trump wants to put in this role.
Trump Announces Former Oklahoma State Trooper as Pick to Head Up ICE
President Trump announced on Saturday that he will nominate former Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer to serve as director of ICE. The surprise pick came as the controversial federal agency continues to battle with negative optics around the country and the world.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Schroyer has been serving most recently as a senior adviser to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. In this role, Schroyer has been in charge of the coordination between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities. Despite this current work experience, many within DHS and ICE were surprised by Trump's selection.
Who is Lance Schroyer? The former Marine worked as a major in the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Services Unit, directing the specialized units in charge of disaster response operations, civil disturbance, and immigration enforcement.
Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday, noting that “Lance has firsthand experience getting Illegal Aliens OFF our streets and, just like ME and our Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, he LOVES the men and women of ICE." The president referred to Schroyer as a "proven leader," detailing his 29 years of experience in law enforcement.
Trump went on to urge the Senate to confirm Schroyer for the role of ICE director. Mullin echoed the sentiment in a statement, saying that "The Senate must quickly confirm Lance Schroyer." ICE has not had a leader confirmed by the Senate since the Obama administration. Should Schroyer be confirmed, he would head up a staff of about 22,000 people.
Although ICE has been around for decades, it is only recently that the agency has been thrust into the spotlight. ICE falls under the umbrella of DHS, playing a crucial role in the Trump administration's policy to crack down on illegal immigration. The shooting of two American civilians in Minneapolis by ICE agents prompted widespread protests around the country earlier in the year.
Reaction to Schroyer Nomination and What is Next
Before being tapped to take over the reins of DHS from former Secretary Kristi Noem, Mullin represented Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate. Mullin issued a statement on Saturday, saying that he thought Schroyer was a "great pick," adding that he is “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 detailed that Schroyer will bring his expertise to the role as he is “coming straight from the operational field.” The secretary noted that Schroyer has been working in a role that requires him to work with state and federal partners as part of the 287(g) program. This program gives ICE the authority to direct state and local law enforcement officers to carry out immigration enforcement duties under the supervision of ICE.
Mullin and Schroyer have worked together for years. According to a White House official, Mullin was the one to initially recommend Schroyer to lead ICE. It is common practice for secretaries of federal agencies to select people with whom they have worked before. For instance, Noem hired her former political director in South Dakota to serve as her ICE deputy director.
David Venturella, the current acting director of ICE, is a veteran ICE employee. According to DHS, Venturella is expected to remain in the role as acting director until Schroyer is confirmed. Todd Lyons resigned as acting director in the spring after facing criticism for his role in the Minneapolis shootings.
Mullins took over in March after Trump unceremoniously fired Noem. Although Mullin has been a staunch ally of the president and his immigration policies, he has not been shy about voicing his approach of taking a quieter approach to running the agency.
In order to be formally placed in the role, Schroyer will need to be confirmed by a simple Senate majority. This translates to 51 votes if all of the 100 senators are in attendance. Unlike some Senate votes, a 60-vote supermajority is not necessary to confirm an ICE director. How quickly the Senate moves on this nomination is yet to be seen. Historically, the summer season is a difficult time to push through confirmations.
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