The arrest of Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, has sent shockwaves through Iowa’s capital and the broader education community. On the morning of Friday, September 26, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Roberts during what the agency described as a "targeted enforcement operation." According to ICE statements reported by ABC News and the Associated Press, Roberts was accused of living and working in the United States illegally, overstaying his visa, and defying a final order of removal issued by a federal judge in 2024.
Roberts, originally from Guyana, entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999. His rise through the ranks of American education was, by all accounts, remarkable. Before being tapped as Des Moines superintendent in July 2023, Roberts spent over two decades in educational leadership roles across the country, including in Baltimore, Washington D.C., the South Bronx, St. Louis, and as superintendent in Pennsylvania. He also holds degrees from institutions like Georgetown and Harvard, and, in a twist that surprised many, competed for Guyana as a middle-distance runner at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The events of Friday unfolded rapidly. ICE agents attempted to stop Roberts in his school-issued vehicle. According to ICE, Roberts fled from the traffic stop, abandoning his car near a wooded area. Officers, with the help of Iowa State Patrol, located and detained him. At the time of his arrest, ICE said Roberts was found with a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash. The agency highlighted these details as evidence of public safety concerns. Sam Olson, ICE’s regional enforcement and removal operations official, stated, “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.”
The Des Moines school district, taken by surprise, scrambled to respond. Jackie Norris, chair of the school board, addressed the community in a news conference, saying, “There is new information that has been made public that we did not know, and have not been able to verify as to whether that information is accurate. There is much we do not know. However, what we do know is that Dr. Roberts has been an integral part of our school community since he joined over two years ago.” She described Roberts as a leader who “has shown up in ways big and small, and has advocated for students and staff and begun introducing concepts that will help us reimagine education for future generations of Des Moines students.”
The district’s spokesperson, Phil Roeder, echoed this uncertainty, telling the Associated Press that the district had “seen nothing that would suggest that he’s not a citizen.” According to Roeder, the district had hired a third party to conduct a comprehensive background check on Roberts and had no knowledge of the 2024 removal order. Roberts had also completed an I-9 form, which requires employees to present documents proving work authorization. The state board of educational examiners issued Roberts a professional administrator license in 2023, which, as of Friday, remained active.
Roberts’ professional and personal background is as complex as his current legal situation. According to a biography on the district’s website and reporting by BBC News, Roberts was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and spent much of his youth in Brooklyn, New York. He is described by colleagues as dynamic and compassionate. Nicole Price, who has worked with Roberts for over a decade, told ABC News, “You can hardly go out with him in any capacity where people are not excited to see him and talk to him. Children light up when they see him, and I believe that is because of how much he cares.”
Yet, the ICE operation was not without precedent. Roberts has a prior weapons charge stemming from an incident in Pennsylvania in January 2022. Court records, as reported by the Associated Press, show that he pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle—a minor infraction that resulted in a $100 fine. Roberts, who described himself as a longtime licensed hunter and gun owner, explained at the time that he left his hunting rifle in plain view in his car to avoid alarming a game officer. He expressed surprise at being cited and questioned whether his race played a role in the incident, writing, “I may not appear to be the ‘type of man’ who would enjoy deer season in Pennsylvania, in fact, I am and have been hunting for more than 20 years.”
The legal complexities of Roberts’ immigration status have only deepened the confusion. ICE claims that his work permit expired in 2020 and that it is illegal for undocumented immigrants to possess firearms. The investigation into the handgun found during his arrest has been referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Meanwhile, Roberts was booked at Woodbury County’s jail in northwest Iowa, and as of Friday, it was unclear if he had secured legal representation.
The reaction from the community was swift. By Friday evening, protesters gathered outside the federal building in downtown Des Moines, voicing opposition to Roberts’ detention. Others rallied in Iowa City, where a separate ICE action had taken place the day before. The presidents of unions representing teachers and school staff issued a joint statement describing Roberts’ compassion for students as “a beacon of light in one of the state’s most diverse school districts.”
Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, was informed of the situation early Friday and remained in contact with state and federal authorities, according to her spokesperson. The school board moved quickly to appoint Matt Smith, associate superintendent, as interim leader while they sought more information. Norris assured the public, “We know you have many questions, and we will provide updates as we learn more confirmed information. We thank you and appreciate your support.”
Roberts’ story is emblematic of the broader national debate over immigration enforcement and public safety. ICE officials, like Sam Olson, argued that the arrest demonstrates the agency’s commitment to removing individuals they consider threats. Critics, however, questioned the timing and tactics of the operation, especially given Roberts’ high-profile role and the lack of prior indications of risk from district officials. The incident comes amid a wider federal crackdown on immigration, further polarizing opinions in Iowa and beyond.
For now, the fate of Dr. Ian Roberts—and the leadership of Iowa’s largest school district—remains uncertain. What is clear is that the community he served is grappling with difficult questions about trust, transparency, and the intersection of immigration law and public service, all against the backdrop of a rapidly unfolding national conversation.
