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Des Moines Schools Superintendent Detained by Immigration Agents on Immigration and Weapon Charges
Des Moines, IA – Ian Roberts, the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was detained Friday morning by immigration agents, according to statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Authorities stated Roberts was in the country illegally and faced existing weapon possession charges, leading to a “targeted enforcement operation” by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Roberts, an educator with decades of experience who previously competed as an Olympic athlete for Guyana, reportedly fled when approached by ICE officers, as detailed by DHS and the Iowa Department of Public Safety. At the time of his arrest, DHS reported Roberts was in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed blade hunting knife. Federal law prohibits individuals without legal status in the U.S. from owning firearms and ammunition.
The arrest has revealed starkly divergent perspectives on Roberts. DHS described him as a “criminal alien” and suggested he posed a public safety threat. However, at a news conference following the arrest, Des Moines Public Schools Board President Jackie Norris defended Roberts, calling him “an integral part of our school community” who has made significant contributions to students and staff.
Roberts entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999 and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge in May 2024, according to DHS. The agency also noted existing weapon charges against Roberts from 2020. Public records confirm Roberts pleaded guilty to a weapon charge in Pennsylvania in 2022.
The school district stated it was unaware of the final order of removal but confirmed Roberts had informed the school board during his hiring process about a firearms offense related to a hunting rifle. The district said Roberts “provided sufficient context and explanation of the situation to move forward in the hiring process” and had submitted required employment eligibility verification forms. As of Friday, the district had not been formally notified by ICE about the matter and had been unable to communicate with Roberts since his detention.
Roberts oversaw more than 30,000 students in Iowa’s largest school district, having been named superintendent in 2023. His extensive educational career included positions in New York City, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Oakland, California, and Erie, Pennsylvania.
In the interim, Matt Smith has been named superintendent. The district released a statement emphasizing its priority to “provide a safe, secure and outstanding education for all students and to support our students, families, and employees.”
The arrest prompted a protest outside the federal courthouse in Des Moines, with demonstrators carrying signs such as, “Education, not deportation / Free Dr. Roberts.”
District teacher Mary Pat LaMair expressed excitement about the public display of support, stating, “I just think it’s really important that we take care of one another.” The Directors Council, a nonprofit serving Des Moines’ Black community, identified Roberts as a board member and offered him their “full support,” recognizing his dedication to equity and families in Polk County.
Organizers from the Iowa Movement for Migrant Justice conveyed that news of the detention was “shocking and scary for immigrant communities,” raising concerns among families.
The Des Moines School Board has scheduled a special closed-session meeting for Saturday to discuss Roberts’ arrest and his employment status with the district.