What happened?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, on Friday. Roberts, 51, allegedly attempted to flee in a school district vehicle before being found with a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife, according to ICE.
He is being held at an immigration detention facility near Des Moines. The firearms case has been referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Who is Ian Roberts?
Roberts has served as superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district since 2023, overseeing more than 30,000 students. He previously worked as a principal in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore and held other education leadership roles across the country.
Born in Guyana, he entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa. He later represented his country in track and field at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and competed in World Championships in Japan and Spain.
Why was he arrested?
ICE said Roberts’ work authorization expired in 2020 and that he had been under a final deportation order since May 2024. Federal law also prohibits undocumented immigrants from possessing firearms. Officials noted he has a prior weapons charge dating back to 2020.
The Department of Homeland Security characterized Roberts as a “criminal alien” and a public safety threat.
How has the community responded?
The Des Moines School Board said it was unaware of many of the allegations. Board Chair Jackie Norris told reporters:
“There is new information that has been made public that we did not know, and we have not been able to verify as to whether that information is accurate.”
Interim Superintendent Matt Smith acknowledged widespread shock but urged families to focus on students’ needs. Protests have also taken place outside a federal courthouse in Des Moines, with demonstrators calling for Roberts’ release.
