Who is Ian Roberts? Des Moines School Superintendent Arrested by ICE for Illegal Stay in US

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa’s largest school district. The arrest shocked educators, parents, and community leaders across the state.

Arrest Details

ICE officials said Roberts was pulled over while driving his school-issued vehicle. He fled into nearby woods, leaving the car behind. With help from the Iowa State Patrol, Roberts was later captured. Authorities confirmed he had been living in the U.S. illegally without work authorization and was already subject to a final removal order issued in 2024.

When arrested, Roberts was carrying a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and about $3,000 in cash. ICE has not disclosed his detention location or whether he has legal representation.

Community Reaction

Phil Roeder, a district spokesperson, said he was scheduled to meet Roberts at a school event that same evening. Instead, he received a text message from Roberts saying he could not attend. Moments later, Roeder witnessed the superintendent’s detention during a video call.
“The district has seen nothing that would suggest he was not a U.S. citizen,” Roeder added.

School board president Jackie Norris called Roberts “an integral part of our school community.” Union leaders also expressed shock, praising him as “a tremendous advocate for students, families, staff, and the community.”

ICE Statement

Regional ICE official Sam Olson criticized the situation.
“How this illegal alien was hired without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension and should alarm the parents of that school district,” he said.

Career and Background

Roberts, 54, became superintendent in July 2023, overseeing more than 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 staff members. His contract included an annual base salary of $270,000, and he held a professional administrator license issued in 2023 by Iowa’s Board of Educational Examiners.

He was born in Guyana to immigrant parents and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Roberts graduated from Coppin State University in 1998 and even competed in the 2000 Olympics for Guyana. He first entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999.

Prior Legal Trouble

Court records reveal Roberts pleaded guilty in Pennsylvania in January 2022 for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle while hunting. He paid a $100 fine plus court costs. Roberts explained at the time that he left his rifle visible in his car to avoid alarming officers.

Broader ICE Actions in Iowa

Roberts’ arrest comes just a day after another controversial ICE operation in Iowa City, where agents in plain clothes detained a man at a grocery store. The two back-to-back incidents have fueled fresh debates about immigration enforcement in Iowa.