On September 26th, the superintendent of the largest school district in Iowa, United States, was arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for suspected unlawful residency. Following this development, a special meeting was convened by the school board on September 27th, during which they unanimously voted to administratively suspend him.
The Des Moines School Board in Iowa held a 3-minute special meeting on Saturday and decided to place Superintendent Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave, citing his inability to fulfill his duties for the district of 30,000 students and the need for further evaluation after gathering more information.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed in a news release on September 27th that Roberts, an illegal immigrant from Guyana, was arrested by ICE with a loaded firearm, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife in his possession the day prior.
DHS disclosed that Roberts entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, faced criminal charges in February 2020 for illegal possession of a weapon, and was issued a Final Order of Removal by an immigration judge in May 2024, rendering him ineligible for work permits.
The DHS stated that on September 26th, ICE agents in Des Moines halted the vehicle Roberts was driving during a targeted enforcement operation. After confirming his identity, he fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle in a wooded area. With the assistance of state police, Roberts was later apprehended.
As to how Roberts acquired the firearm, DHS has handed over the investigation to relevant authorities. Under federal laws, illegal residents are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, constituting a violation.
Sam Olson, the Director of the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) office in St. Paul, Iowa, emphasized in a press release that the suspect was arrested for fleeing federal law enforcement officers in a vehicle provided by the Des Moines Public Schools while armed, underscoring ICE’s efforts in removing public safety threats.
Olson added, “It is baffling that an illegal alien, without a work permit, with a Final Order of Removal and a criminal history of illegal weapon possession, could be hired as a district superintendent. This should raise alarms for all district parents.”
Des Moines is the capital and largest city in Iowa, with Des Moines School District being the largest public school district in the state. The school board unanimously endorsed Roberts as the new superintendent according to a May 2023 resolution, as per the district’s website.
In a previous press release, the school board described Roberts as a dedicated professional in the field of education, with leadership experience in schools of various sizes in major cities. They noted that he previously served as a superintendent in a school district in Pennsylvania and in executive roles at charter and vocational schools.
Roberts, according to the district’s press release, proudly stated that he was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and spent most of his formative years in Brooklyn, NY.
After the conclusion of the Des Moines School Board meeting on September 27th, Board Chair Jackie Norris read a statement acknowledging the shock felt by many upon learning of Roberts’ arrest on Friday, but emphasized that the board is still in the process of gathering all pertinent facts.