Des Moines, Iowa, found itself at the center of a national controversy on September 26, 2025, when Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The arrest, which unfolded during a targeted enforcement operation, has sent shockwaves through the school district, the city, and beyond, raising urgent questions about immigration enforcement, public safety, and the systems that allowed Roberts to rise to one of Iowa’s most visible education posts.
According to a press release from ICE and statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Roberts was approached by federal agents while in his vehicle. When officers identified themselves, Roberts allegedly sped off, abandoning his car in a nearby wooded area. After a search assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, agents found Roberts in possession of a loaded handgun, a hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash. As DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin confirmed, "Roberts abandoned his car and fled from police on Friday, and was allegedly in possession of a loaded handgun, a large amount of cash and a hunting knife."
ICE’s statement further revealed that Roberts, a 54-year-old native of Guyana, had a "final order of removal" issued by an immigration judge in May 2024, and was working as superintendent without legal work authorization. Roberts originally entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa and had been serving as Des Moines Public Schools superintendent since July 2023, after being licensed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.
Federal officials also highlighted Roberts’ prior legal issues. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson stated, "This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement. This should be a wake-up call for our communities to the great work that our officers are doing every day to remove public safety threats. 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."
Roberts’ record includes a guilty plea to unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle in Pennsylvania in 2021, a fact he reportedly disclosed to the school board during the hiring process. The district’s statement clarified, "Dr. Roberts has a previous firearm charge related to a hunting rifle, which he disclosed to the DMPS Board during the hiring process. He provided sufficient context and explanation of the situation to move forward in the hiring process. He has also spoken publicly about this experience."
Despite this, ICE stated there were "existing weapon possession charges" from February 2020, though these could not be independently verified by local news outlets. The district said it conducted a third-party comprehensive background check and that Roberts completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form with the required documentation. However, the district claimed it had no knowledge of his order of removal prior to the arrest.
The fallout was immediate and widespread. At a press conference held the afternoon of the arrest, School Board President Jackie Norris acknowledged the uncertainty swirling around the situation. "We do not have all the facts. There is much we do not know," Norris said. She added, "It seems fitting to take a page out of Dr. Roberts’s book and ask the community to engage in radical empathy as we work through the situation together. Radical empathy is the recognition that we can disagree and still empathize with each other. The respect of others’ humanity — this concept will be essential as we wait to learn more."
With Roberts in federal custody, the board swiftly appointed Associate Superintendent Matt Smith as interim superintendent. Smith, who previously served in the role during the 2022-23 school year, addressed the community’s concerns, saying, "We, too, are devastated by news of his detainment, but the district would continue working hard to serve its students." Quoting Roberts’ own words, Smith said, "If you paddle together, you will survive the tide. If you paddle alone, you will likely drown. As we learn more, we choose to paddle together."
Reactions from Iowa’s political leaders demonstrated the sharply polarized climate surrounding immigration and public safety. Governor Kim Reynolds was notified of the arrest and remained in contact with the Iowa Department of Public Safety and federal authorities. U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, whose district includes Des Moines, emphasized the need for immigration reform, stating, "Unfortunate situations like today underscore exactly why we must fix our broken immigration system. An individual with a prior weapons charge and an active deportation order should never have been placed in this position of public trust."
On the other side of the political spectrum, Mazie Stilwell, executive director of the progressive group Progress Iowa, condemned the arrest as an example of government overreach, saying, "No Iowan is safe. We’re living under a fascist regime because Nunn, Miller-Meeks, Hinson and every single Iowa Member of Congress has been in lockstep with the MAGA administration that is terrorizing our communities." Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson called Roberts a "dangerous fugitive" and demanded his immediate deportation, writing, "He should have never been anywhere around Iowa kids in the first place!"
Community organizations also weighed in, with The Directors Council, a coalition of nonprofits serving Des Moines’ Black community, expressing support for Roberts. Their statement read, "Dr. Roberts has been a trusted partner, a dedicated advocate for equity, and an unwavering supporter of families and youth in Polk County. His contributions to both The Directors Council and the wider community are immeasurable, and we stand with him during this uncertain moment." Alison Hoeman, founder of Des Moines Refugees Support, noted the anxiety among students and families, saying, "You know it’s the Black and Brown kids who are worried. If it’s Ian Roberts who’s in trouble, what does that mean for them?"
The arrest also raised questions about hiring and vetting procedures. Iowa Sen. Mike Bousselot asked, "How does this happen? How does the biggest school district miss the red flags?" and suggested legislative oversight hearings might be in order. The Des Moines Police Department clarified it was not involved in Roberts’ arrest and had no advance notice, while the Iowa Department of Public Safety confirmed that state troopers assisted ICE in locating Roberts after he fled a traffic stop.
Roberts’ background is notable: born in Guyana, raised in Brooklyn, and a former Olympic athlete who competed in the 2000 Sydney Games in track and field for Guyana. He became superintendent in July 2023, succeeding Tom Ahart, and was described by colleagues as an integral part of the school community.
As of Friday evening, the district had not been formally notified by ICE about the matter, nor had officials spoken to Roberts since his detention. ICE said it had referred Roberts to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for further investigation regarding illegal possession of a handgun while in the country without legal status.
The legal, ethical, and emotional fallout from Roberts’ arrest is likely to reverberate for months, if not years, in Iowa’s capital. For now, the community waits for answers, with district officials, parents, and students left to navigate the uncertain waters left in the wake of a superintendent’s stunning detention.
