President Donald Trump’s hand-picked nominee to head up ICE is not well-liked, and his held-up confirmation is reportedly being hailed as good news within the agency.
Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper and adviser to the Department of Homeland Security, is reportedly seen by many as an outsider whose qualifications don’t measure up, a Politico report said.
Instead, DHS insiders say they would prefer to see the current acting head of ICE, Dave Venturella, continue in the role permanently.
“We don’t want [Schroyer]. We don’t need him. Leave us alone. We are running better than ever,” one official told Politico. “People need to stop telling us how to do what we do best.”
Schroyer was announced by Trump as his pick for ICE boss in June, reportedly surprising many inside and outside the agency.
His confirmation hearing has been held up in the Senate by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who has refused to schedule a hearing until the administration shares more information about its investigations into ICE agents killing two American citizens in January in Minneapolis.
Schroyer, a longtime associate of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, was reportedly the secretary’s pick, and insiders say his choice proves he’s not committed to what has become ICE’s core business under Trump: mass deportation.
An official told Politico that Schroyer’s lack of experience with mass deportation “shows how out of touch Mullin is.”
“That’s not even JV level for literally the most important job in the admin that remains unfilled,” the official said. “Mullin clearly doesn’t subscribe to mass deportations.”
“Secretary Mullin and the Department of Homeland Security stand firmly behind President Trump’s nominee, Lance Schroyer, and look forward to him bringing nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience to lead the men and women of ICE,” a spokesperson for the department said.
The Politico report suggested that White House officials were comfortable with the hold on Schroyer’s confirmation, and weren’t trying to get the confirmation hearing bumped up.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But a White House spokesman told Politico that “congressional scheduling should not be interpreted as any personnel announcements.”
And an unnamed official said Schroyer is still who Trump wants in the job.
“People can have personal relationships with Dave [Venturella] or whoever, but ultimately, it’s who the president wants in that position.”
No one has been confirmed to head the controversial agency since 2014, with all directors over the past 12 years serving as acting heads.
