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Trump Nominates Former Agent as New ICE Director
Trump nominated Lance Schroyer to lead ICE amid rising arrests and criticism over deaths in immigration custody.
By  Ernesto Iván Vargas Martínez
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Trump Nominates Former Agent as New ICE Director
Foto Washington DC (United States), 26/06/2026.- United States President Donald Trump holds a report by the Religious Liberty Commission in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 26 June 2026. Trump is speaking on the report released by the White House Religious Liberty Commission, which was established by executive order last year. (Estados Unidos) EFE/EPA/Aaron Schwartz / POOL

Posted on06/29/26 at 16:00

  • Trump nominates new ICE director
  • ICE awaits confirmation
  • Immigration arrests increase

United States President Donald Trump nominated Lance Schroyer on Saturday to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the country.

The appointment represents another step in the immigration strategy promoted by the White House.

Trump announced the nomination through a message posted on Truth Social.

The appointment must now be confirmed by the Senate before Schroyer can officially assume the position.

Trump nominates new ICE director

The president highlighted that Schroyer has more than 29 years of experience in law enforcement.

That background was presented as one of the main arguments supporting his nomination.

If confirmed, he will take charge of one of the most important agencies in the government’s immigration policy.

ICE has become a central part of the Trump administration’s strategy for mass deportations.

Who is Lance Schroyer and what would his role at ICE be?

Lance Schroyer currently serves as a senior adviser to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

From that position, he has participated in matters related to national security policy.

Mullin said Schroyer would help strengthen the administration’s strategy.

According to his explanation, his work would focus on locating, detaining, and deporting migrants without legal status.

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If approved by the Senate, he will replace acting director David Venturella.

Venturella took over the position in May after a long career within the U.S. immigration system.

Before him, the agency was led by Todd Lyons.

Lyons directed ICE from March 2025, when the Trump administration intensified its campaign of arrests and deportations, and left the position last month.

The agency remains under interim leadership as arrests increase

ICE’s leadership has remained under interim officials for nearly a decade.

The last person confirmed by the Senate to hold the position was Sarah Saldaña.

Saldaña led the agency during Barack Obama’s presidency.

Since then, no permanent director has received confirmation from the Senate.

Since Trump returned to the White House, ICE has strengthened its role within federal immigration policy.

In January of this year, the agency had more than 71,000 people in custody.

That figure represents the highest number of detainees recorded in ICE history.

The increase in arrests has coincided with a rise in migrant deaths while in custody.

A report released this month by Human Rights Watch and Physicians for Human Rights documented 52 deaths during the first 500 days of Trump’s second term.

The report concluded that the mortality rate in ICE detention facilities is the highest recorded in at least a decade.

Schroyer’s nomination comes amid that context, and the Senate’s decision remains pending as it determines whether he will become the agency’s next permanent director.