Lance Schroyer, a 29-year veteran of law enforcement and has been working as a senior advisor to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, was nominated to be director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The White House pulled his nomination Thursday. Photo by Department of Homeland Security
Sept. 17 (UPI) — The White House on Thursday withdrew the nomination of Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer to run Immigration and Customs Enforcement after his confirmation was blocked in committee.
Senate Homeland Security Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., held up the confirmation, requesting that the Department of Homeland Security turn over more information about the investigation into the two ICE and Border Patrol agents accused of killing protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January.
Paul’s spokesperson Drew Carmichael said he didn’t oppose Schroyer’s nomination.
When Trump announced the choice, he called Schroyer “a PATRIOT with real operational experience, and proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst.”
Schroyer had no experience leading a major law enforcement agency but he has close ties with DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Mullin has made Schroyer a senior advisor at the department.
The Senate hasn’t confirmed an ICE director since 2014.
Acting ICE chief David Venturella, a friend of White House border czar Tom Homan, has led ICE while Schroyer’s nomination was pending. The acting director can stay in place as long as a nominee is pending. Now that Schroyer has been removed, there’s a 210-day limit for Venturella unless there’s another nominee.
About the Author
