US President Donald Trump has nominated Lance Shroyer, a former Marine and 29-year law enforcement officer, to lead US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a Truth Social post, Trump called him a patriot and a “proven leader.”
According to Trump, Shroyer, as head of ICE, will be able to detain and deport criminals at a pace “that has never been seen before.” He noted that Shroyer served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, where he gained significant operational experience.
“Lance is a former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper and US Marine. “He is a patriot with real-life operational experience and a proven leader who has put the world's most dangerous criminals behind bars for decades, including leading the 287(g) law enforcement partnership with ICE,” Trump said.
According to CNN, Shroyer currently works as a senior adviser to US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. He is responsible for coordination between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement agencies.
He previously served with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, where he led the emergency management, riot response and immigration enforcement divisions.
Mullin, in a statement published by CNN, called Shroyer's candidacy an “excellent choice” and specifically noted his practical experience working at the operational level.
Multiple people with knowledge of the matter confirmed to NBC News that Shroyer has local law enforcement experience but no experience working directly with ICE, which may come as a surprise to the agency's rank-and-file employees.
Former acting ICE chief Todd Lyons, appointed in March 2025, left the post this spring. Lyons, tasked with implementing the Trump administration's mass deportation plan, has faced disapproval and criticism amid several deadly shootings. After his departure, David Venturella was appointed acting head.
Trump and Mullin called on the Senate to quickly confirm Shroyer as the new head of ICE. As NBC News notes, since 2017, not a single agency head has been approved by Congress.
