<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The White House on Thursday withdrew its nomination of Lance Schroyer to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) blocked the Oklahoma state trooper’s nomination in committee.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Schroyer was nominated by President Donald Trump in late June. The former Oklahoma police officer had been serving as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s adviser and security detail and is a longtime friend.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security committee, blocked Schroyer’s nomination, stating he would not advance it until the Trump administration provided more information about its investigation into the federal agents involved in the deadly shootings in Minneapolis earlier this year.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Paul has been critical of Mullin’s leadership at DHS. Mullin, who personally supported Schroyer’s nomination, and other sources within the agency had referred to Schroyer as the secretary’s “good buddy.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The White House previously rejected the notion that Schroyer was put forth with Mullin’s endorsement and stated that Trump’s selection of Schroyer was his decision alone.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Schroyer was slated to replace acting director David Venturella, a former executive at a private prison operator. Former ICE director Todd Lyons resigned in May for a role in the private sector.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The nomination faced criticism, with some officials indicating that Schroyer’s leadership could harm an already unpopular ICE. One official described it as a “mistake,” citing his lack of managerial experience, proximity to Mullin, and inexperience leading a federal agency as reasons Schroyer may not be the best choice. Mullin had assumed his lead role without a background in homeland security, immigration, or border policy.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Schroyer has had a career in local and state law enforcement since 1997 and had previously collaborated with federal immigration officials last year under a program that allows ICE to delegate immigration duties to state and local police.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the end of the second Obama administration, more than nine years ago, and Trump has yet to indicate his next pick to lead the agency.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House for comment.</p>