Overview
- The White House withdrew Lance Schroyer's nomination on Sept. 17, 2026, and provided no public reason for the decision.
- Schroyer is a former state police officer, ex-Marine infantryman and adviser to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin who was nominated in late June.
- U.S. media reported that Schroyer has limited long-term immigration policy experience, a factor that had pointed to a contentious Senate confirmation process.
- The post stayed vacant after acting director Todd Lyons left in May 2026, continuing a pattern of ICE leaders serving in an acting capacity since 2017.
- ICE has been central to the administration's stepped-up enforcement and high-profile raids that prompted large protests and intensified scrutiny after January 2025 shootings in Minneapolis, creating political pressure that could shape any future nomination and oversight.