Arrest of Iowa Superintendent by ICE Raises Concerns in Education and Immigration Systems

Published: September-28-2025, 07:00 EDT

Federal immigration officials have arrested the superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, alleging he was living and working in the United States without legal authorization. The detention has left educators, parents, and community members in shock, while raising questions about hiring practices, background checks, and immigration enforcement in public institutions.

ICE Arrests Des Moines Schools Chief

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, 54, was arrested Friday during a traffic stop after initially fleeing into a wooded area. Officials said Roberts, a native of Guyana, had been subject to a final removal order issued in 2024 and was classified as a fugitive.

Roberts was taken into custody with assistance from the Iowa State Patrol and transferred to Woodbury County Jail in northwest Iowa. ICE reported that he was carrying a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a hunting knife at the time of his arrest. It is unclear whether Roberts has secured legal representation.

District Expresses Shock Over Detention

Phil Roeder, spokesperson for Des Moines Public Schools, said the district was surprised by the arrest. He noted that Roberts had passed a comprehensive third-party background check before being hired and had completed the legally required I-9 employment verification form.

“We have seen nothing that would suggest he’s not a citizen,” Roeder told the Associated Press. He added that he witnessed Roberts’ detention through a video call shortly after the incident.

The district said it was not aware of any outstanding immigration order against Roberts and emphasized the legal complexity of the case.

ICE Calls Arrest a Public Safety Issue

In a statement, ICE enforcement official Sam Olson described Roberts’ case as concerning, pointing to his immigration status, prior removal order, and a weapons charge.

“How this individual was hired without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension,” Olson said. He added that the arrest demonstrates the agency’s efforts to protect communities from public safety risks.

A Veteran Educator with National Experience

Roberts, who took over as superintendent in July 2023, leads a district of more than 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 employees. He held an active professional administrator license in Iowa and earned an annual base salary of $270,000 under his contract, which ran until June 2024.

School board president Jackie Norris described Roberts as an “integral part of our school community” and praised his dedication to students.

Union leaders representing teachers and school staff across the state also released a statement expressing shock, describing Roberts’ compassion for students as a “beacon of light” in one of Iowa’s most diverse districts.

Professional and Personal Background

Before moving to Iowa, Roberts served as superintendent of the Millcreek Township School District in Pennsylvania. He previously held leadership roles in other U.S. school systems.

According to his biography, Roberts was born in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents from Guyana. He graduated from Coppin State University in Baltimore in 1998 and represented Guyana in track and field at the 2000 Olympics.

ICE said Roberts first entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa. His father immigrated in the 1980s, followed by his mother in the early 2000s.

Prior Weapons Infraction in Pennsylvania

ICE also cited a prior weapons charge against Roberts. Court records show that in January 2022, he pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle, stemming from a citation issued while he was deer hunting in Pennsylvania. He was fined $100 and court costs.

Roberts explained at the time that he had placed his rifle in plain sight inside his vehicle to avoid alarming a game officer. He suggested that his race may have influenced the officer’s decision to issue the citation but said he chose to plead guilty to avoid distraction.

Des Moines school officials acknowledged they were aware of the 2022 incident before hiring him.

Community Reactions and Protests

The arrest quickly drew public response. On Friday evening, crowds gathered outside the federal building in downtown Des Moines to protest Roberts’ detention. Demonstrators also rallied in Iowa City, where ICE agents had forcibly detained another man at a grocery store the day before.

Governor Kim Reynolds was briefed on Roberts’ arrest and has been in contact with state and federal authorities, according to her office.

The case continues to unfold, leaving the school district, families, and Iowa officials facing uncertainty about leadership and the broader implications for immigration enforcement in public institutions.