Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper with limited direct experience in immigration policy, is close to DHS head Markwayne Mullin

ICE has been without a Senate-confirmed head since the Obama administration. David Venturella stepped back into the agency to serve as acting director earlier this year following the official departure of Todd Lyons, who recently resigned from his leadership position.

Department of Homeland Security officials were reportedly up in arms over the nomination as critics inside DHS questioned Schroyer’s qualifications. They wanted Veturella to keep running the agency, Politico reported in August.

“We don’t want [Schroyer]. We don’t need him. Leave us alone. We are running better than ever,” one unnamed official told the publication. “People need to stop telling us how to do what we do best.”