The White House withdrew the nomination of Lance Schroyer to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. The decision leaves the agency without a Senate-confirmed director for the second time in recent months, continuing a period of leadership instability at the federal law enforcement body.
Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, was nominated by President Donald Trump in June. At the time, the president described Schroyer on Truth Social as “a PATRIOT with real operational experience” and a “proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst.” Despite these endorsements, Schroyer had limited direct experience in immigration enforcement prior to his nomination.
The withdrawal comes after months of scrutiny over ICE’s handling of enforcement operations. The agency has faced intense questioning regarding its recruitment and training protocols for officers. Critics have pointed to incidents where ICE agents shot and killed multiple individuals, including two American citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., played a pivotal role in the nomination’s stall. Paul refused to hold a hearing on Schroyer until the Department of Homeland Security provided detailed information about civilian deaths during ICE enforcement operations. “I don’t have a concern with who the nominee was,” Paul said. “I had asked them to give me an update on the internal investigation into civilian deaths.”
Paul intended to hold a hearing on Schroyer’s nomination but never did, citing the lack of transparency from the agency. The standoff highlighted growing tensions between lawmakers seeking accountability and the administration’s push for aggressive border enforcement.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, a former U.S. senator from Oklahoma, took over the department in March. Mullin pledged a lower-profile approach to immigration enforcement, signaling a shift in strategy from previous administrations. Schroyer is close to Mullin, having served alongside him in Oklahoma politics.
The withdrawal leaves ICE under the leadership of David Venturella, who returned as acting director earlier this year after Todd Lyons resigned. The agency has not had a Senate-confirmed leader since the Obama administration, raising concerns about long-term policy consistency and oversight.
Despite the leadership vacuum, ICE enforcement activity remains high. Arrests reached nearly 51,000 in August, marking the highest single monthly total during the second Trump administration. The surge in arrests underscores the agency’s continued focus on immigration enforcement, even as its leadership structure remains unsettled.
The White House offered no comment in a brief statement regarding the withdrawal. Officials did not indicate when they might announce another pick for the position, leaving the future of ICE’s leadership uncertain.
The situation reflects broader challenges facing the Trump administration in balancing aggressive immigration enforcement with congressional oversight and public accountability. As ICE continues to operate under acting leadership, questions about its direction and priorities remain unresolved.
For more on recent developments in federal appointments, see White House Pulls Schroyer Nomination for ICE Director Post. Related coverage includes House Sends Russia Sanctions Bill to Trump After Bipartisan Vote.