Trump Seeks to End Years of Acting Leadership at ICE

President Donald Trump has nominated Oklahoma law enforcement veteran Lance Schroyer to be the first permanent director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in nearly a decade. Trump urged the Senate to confirm Schroyer immediately, highlighting his experience as a former state trooper and Marine. Schroyer’s nomination comes as ICE has had a succession of acting directors since 2017, with his selection reportedly surprising some within the agency due to his state policing background.

• President Trump nominated Lance Schroyer, an Oklahoma law enforcement veteran, to lead ICE.
• If confirmed, Schroyer would be ICE’s first permanent director in nearly 10 years.
• Trump urged the Senate to confirm Schroyer immediately, emphasizing his experience with detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants.
• Schroyer’s credentials include expanding the ICE 287(g) program, which allows local police to perform immigration enforcement functions.
• This program is opposed by civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups due to concerns about racial profiling and blurred enforcement lines.
• ICE has been led by acting directors since 2017 due to political battles and stalled nominations.
• Schroyer’s background is in state policing, unlike previous ICE chiefs from within the agency’s senior ranks.