Donald Trump chooses Lance Schroyer to head ICE and strengthens his immigration policy

Le président américain Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Lance Schroyer as director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This nomination is part of the ongoing hardline immigration policy pursued by the U.S. administration since Trump's return to the White House.

In a message posted on social media, Donald Trump praised Lance Schroyer's 29 years of experience in Oklahoma law enforcement. The president also called on the Senate to confirm his nomination "immediately," arguing that the position should no longer remain vacant.

ICE has been run by interim officials for several years and has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the beginning of 2017. Schroyer's appointment would thus end a long period without permanent leadership at the head of the agency.

Since returning to power last year, Donald Trump has made combating illegal immigration one of his administration's priorities. ICE plays a central role in this strategy, particularly through operations to detain and deport undocumented immigrants.

This policy, however, remains strongly contested by several human rights organizations, which accuse the administration of infringing on civil liberties and creating a dangerous climate, particularly for ethnic minorities. The deaths of two American citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, shot by ICE agents in Minnesota in January, notably sparked protests across the country.

Furthermore, a Reuters analysis based on ICE records indicates that at least 50 people have died in immigration detention centers since Donald Trump launched his mass deportation campaign. According to this preliminary data, the death rate in these centers has more than doubled since the president's return to office, a toll the administration justifies by claiming it is acting to strengthen national security.