The White House on Thursday withdrew the nomination of Oklahoma state trooper Lance Schroyer to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a Republican blocked his confirmation hearing.
Schroyer's nomination stalled after Senate Homeland Security Chair Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a foe of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, requested that the Department of Homeland Security provide his committee with more information about its investigation into two ICE and Border Patrol agents accused of killing two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in January.
Schroyer was a surprise pick to lead ICE. He had no experience leading a major law enforcement agency, let alone an organization the size of ICE. But Schroyer has close ties with the DHS secretary. Schroyer at one point led Mullin's security detail, and Mullin made Schroyer a senior adviser at DHS.
The White House and DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The nomination's withdrawal is a blow to Mullin, who has faced criticism from immigration hardliners over what they have characterized as insufficient progress in achieving mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants from the United States. Mullin had defended his pick to lead ICE, saying he wanted someone who could be confirmed in the Senate.