The Des Moines Public Schools Board has unanimously voted to place Superintendent Ian Roberts on paid leave after he was detained by immigration agents, Board Chair Jackie Norris announced.
Why This Matters
In the context of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts and growing scrutiny of ICE operations, the detention of Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts has drawn national attention. Roberts, who oversees the education of roughly 30,000 students, is a prominent figure in Iowa’s capital. According to The Associated Press, citing the district’s website, he was born to parents from Guyana and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
ICE reported that agents stopped Ian Roberts on Friday while he was driving. He allegedly fled on foot into a nearby wooded area before being apprehended with assistance from the Iowa State Patrol.
Key Details
In a statement on Friday, September 27, Norris said Roberts had represented himself as a U.S. citizen during the hiring process. She added that the independent firm contracted to perform a background check had not flagged any concerns about his immigration status.
ICE confirmed Roberts was stopped while driving and fled on foot before being detained. The agency said he was found in possession of a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and approximately $3,000 in cash.
Norris noted that the district learned from ICE that “in May 2024, an immigration judge issued a final removal order for Dr. Roberts.” She emphasized, “We were not made aware of that fact, and that’s very concerning. I want to be clear, no one here was aware of any citizenship or immigration issues that Dr. Roberts may have been facing.”
The district is cooperating with authorities and reviewing the matter. Norris stated that Roberts completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted the required documentation, affirming he was a U.S. citizen. The Iowa Department of Education issued Roberts a superintendent’s license in 2023 after conducting criminal background checks.
Roberts began serving as Des Moines superintendent on July 1, 2023, following a national search that included third-party background checks commissioned by the district’s search firm, which reportedly found no issues related to citizenship or immigration.
“Two things can be true,” Norris said. “We must support our interim superintendent and staff as they lead 35,000 students and staff, because our collective role is to educate and support our students and their families. And we must continue to pursue the facts in this case, understanding that our school community is still processing this significant issue.”
Associate Superintendent Matt Smith has been appointed interim superintendent under the district’s leadership succession plan.
Roberts faces existing weapon possession charges from February 5, 2020. He entered the United States on a student visa in 1999. The investigation into how Roberts obtained the handgun has been referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Federal law prohibits individuals without legal status in the U.S. from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Community Reactions
Daniel Chapin of the nonprofit The Uvalde Foundation For Kids told Newsweek: “Many in the community are understandably confused or frustrated with the recent arrest of their superintendent. However, we must not allow this incident to suggest that the superintendent’s actions were acceptable. School leaders must be held accountable.”
Chapin emphasized, “This situation is not about race or broader political issues. It concerns a leader—an educational leader—setting an example and serving the community with integrity. The focus must remain on the breach of trust and the integrity required of those overseeing our children’s safety and education.”
Des Moines Public Schools Board Chair Jackie Norris urged calm, stating, “We all need to cool down the rhetoric. We should promote true discourse and facts, not spread misinformation meant to divide us.”
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson said: “This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement.”
Next Steps
Roberts will remain in ICE custody pending removal.
