Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts Detained by ICE Officials

Des Moines Superintendent Apprehended by ICE

Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS), was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on Friday morning, September 26, 2025. The apprehension occurred in Des Moines, Iowa, with Roberts later reportedly held at the Pottawattamie County Jail and subsequently the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center in Sioux City.

Allegations from Immigration Authorities

According to statements from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Roberts, 54, entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa. He was issued a 'final order of removal' by an immigration judge in May 2024 and lacked work authorization. ICE described the detention as a 'targeted enforcement operation.' Authorities stated that when officers approached Roberts in his vehicle on Friday morning, he 'sped away.' His vehicle, provided by the school district, was later found abandoned near a wooded area, and he was located with assistance from the State Patrol.

Upon his arrest, Roberts was allegedly in possession of a loaded handgun (a Glock 19), $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife. ICE also noted that Roberts has 'existing weapon possession charges from February 5, 2020.' Federal law prohibits individuals without legal status in the U.S. from possessing a firearm. Sam Olson, director of ICE's St. Paul Field Office, commented, '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.'

School District's Response and Roberts' Background

The Des Moines Public Schools district expressed surprise regarding the events. Jackie Norris, the Des Moines school board president, stated that the district had 'no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps.' She added that the district was unaware of the alleged order of removal and had not been formally notified by ICE about Roberts' detention. DMPS confirmed that a 'third-party comprehensive background check' was conducted before Roberts was hired in July 2023. The district also noted that Roberts had disclosed a previous firearm charge, related to a hunting incident in Pennsylvania in 2021, during his hiring process, which they deemed to have 'sufficient context and explanation.' However, DMPS policy prohibits weapons on school grounds or at school-sponsored activities.

Matt Smith, an associate superintendent, has been appointed as interim superintendent. The Des Moines School Board has scheduled a special meeting for Saturday, September 27, to discuss Roberts' administrative leave status.

Roberts, originally from Guyana, has often spoken of being raised in Brooklyn, New York, by Guyanese immigrant parents. He became the first Black superintendent of Iowa's largest school district, which serves over 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 employees. Before his career in education, Roberts was an Olympic athlete, representing Guyana in the 800-meter track race at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.