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WASHINGTON — The White House yanked President Trump’s nomination of Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement after Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked it.
Trump announced Schroyer’s nomination back in June. Schroyer had no experience leading a law enforcement agency of any kind, but was a “good friend” of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has long feuded with Mullin and refrained from holding a hearing on Schroyer until the Trump administration coughed up more records on the ICE shootings of Americans Alex Pretti and Renee Good earlier this year in Minnesota.
While Lance lacked experience leading a major law enforcement agency, he had close ties to Mullin, even working as a senior adviser to the DHS boss.
“Lance has over 29 YEARS of Law Enforcement experience in Oklahoma,” Trump gushed on Truth Social when he announced his nomination. “Lance is a former Oklahoma State Trooper, and United States Marine. He is a PATRIOT with real operational experience, and proven leader.”
“Importantly, Lance Schroyer has what it takes to DETAIN AND DEPORT Illegal Alien Criminals.”
ICE has been led by acting director David Venturella since June. His predecessor, Todd Lyons, stepped down, claiming he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Lyons had been on the opposite side of a rift with Border Patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem over how aggressive to be with immigration enforcement. Lyons wanted to prioritize illegal immigrations with bad rap sheets, whereas Bovino wanted a far broader effort.
The former ICE boss had the backing of border czar Tom Homan, and ultimately both Bovino and Noem were pushed out.
Meanwhile, Mullin has come under fire from his right flank for not being more aggressive with deportations.
Mullin reportedly collaborated with White House deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, on the selection of Schroyer to lead ICE. Miller, an immigration hardliner, has been widely seen as one of the driving forces behind the president’s deportation agenda.
The DHS boss had stressed his desire to pick someone who could clear the Senate. Schroyer previously worked on his security team.
ICE has lacked a Senate-confirmed director since former President Barack Obama’s time in the White House.
The Post reached out to the White House and Department of Homeland Security for comment.
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