Here’s what happened.
President Donald Trump’s White House has withdrawn the nomination of Richard Lance Schroyer for a senior Department of Homeland Security position tied to leadership of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, marking a significant change as the administration continues pursuing its immigration enforcement agenda.
The White House formally announced the withdrawal on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Schroyer, an Oklahoma law enforcement veteran, was one of five nominees whose names were withdrawn from Senate consideration. The official White House notice did not provide a reason for the decision.
White House Pulls Schroyer Nomination
Trump originally sent Schroyer’s nomination to the Senate on July 20, identifying him as his choice to become an assistant secretary of Homeland Security.
Schroyer had been selected for a role associated with leading Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE, at a time when the agency remains central to the administration’s immigration and deportation policies.
His nomination immediately attracted attention because of his background.
Schroyer spent decades in Oklahoma law enforcement and had previously worked with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Supporters pointed to that experience as evidence that he understood frontline law enforcement operations.
Critics questioned whether his background included enough experience managing an organization comparable in size and complexity to ICE.
Questions Surrounded His Experience
Some criticism focused on Schroyer’s lack of experience running a major federal law enforcement agency.
Politico reported that his selection surprised some observers because he had not previously headed an organization on the scale of ICE.
Schroyer had, however, accumulated nearly three decades of law enforcement experience and had participated in operations involving cooperation between state and federal authorities.
That distinction became central to the debate surrounding his nomination: supporters emphasized operational experience, while critics questioned his management credentials.
Markwayne Mullin Defended Trump’s Pick
Mullin strongly supported Schroyer after Trump selected him.
In announcing his support earlier this year, Mullin said Schroyer had more than 29 years of law enforcement experience and had worked directly with state and federal partners on immigration-related operations.
Mullin argued that Schroyer’s background would help the administration carry out Trump’s immigration enforcement priorities, including arrests and deportations involving people targeted by ICE.
He also emphasized the importance of securing a Senate-confirmed leader for the agency.
Critics Pointed to Mullin Connection
Schroyer’s relationship with Mullin also became part of the controversy.
Some critics argued that his connection to the Homeland Security secretary played an important role in his selection.
Journalist Steve Herman noted that Republican lawmakers were among those who had raised questions about whether Schroyer possessed the qualifications necessary to oversee ICE.
Supporters rejected the idea that his personal connections defined his qualifications, instead highlighting his lengthy career in law enforcement.
Those competing arguments remained unresolved when the White House withdrew the nomination.
Why ICE Leadership Matters
ICE is one of the most consequential agencies within the Department of Homeland Security.
Its responsibilities include immigration enforcement inside the United States, investigations involving cross-border crime and the arrest and removal of certain noncitizens who are subject to enforcement action.
The agency has taken on heightened importance under Trump as his administration has expanded immigration enforcement efforts.
That makes the selection of permanent leadership particularly important for the White House.
A Senate-confirmed ICE leader would be responsible for overseeing thousands of employees and helping implement major portions of the administration’s immigration agenda.
Trump Administration Faces Next Decision
Schroyer’s withdrawal now raises an obvious question: Who will Trump choose next?
The White House announcement did not identify a replacement nominee or explain whether another candidate is already under consideration.
The administration could nominate another candidate and restart the Senate confirmation process.
Until that happens, the withdrawal leaves another leadership decision unresolved at an agency playing a major role in federal immigration enforcement.
For Trump, immigration remains one of the defining policy issues of his presidency.
Whoever is ultimately chosen to lead ICE could therefore have considerable influence over how the administration carries out its enforcement strategy in the months ahead.
For now, Schroyer’s nomination is officially over — and attention will turn to whom the White House selects next.