On October 3, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a detailed account of the criminal and immigration history of Ian Andre Roberts, the recently resigned superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. The revelations have sent shockwaves through Iowa’s largest school district and spurred a broader debate about hiring practices, immigration enforcement, and the safety of students.
Roberts’ resignation, tendered on September 30, 2025, followed his arrest by federal immigration authorities just days earlier. According to The Des Moines Register, Roberts was apprehended by ICE officers acting on a 2024 deportation order. The arrest itself was dramatic: as ICE officials approached Roberts in Des Moines on September 26, he attempted to flee, speeding off in his vehicle before abandoning it and hiding in a brushy area roughly 200 meters away. Iowa State Patrol officers assisted in his capture. At the scene, officers found a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash in his vehicle, as reported by ICE and Fox News.
Roberts now faces federal charges for being an illegal alien in possession of firearms, a charge filed on October 2, 2025. He is currently in U.S. Marshals custody, awaiting prosecution. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin was blunt in her assessment, stating, “Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien with multiple weapons charges and a drug trafficking charge, should have never been able to work around children.” She added, “This criminal illegal alien is now in U.S. Marshals custody and facing charges for being an illegal alien in possession of firearms. Under Secretary Noem, ICE will continue to arrest the worst of the worst and put the safety of America’s children first.”
The list of Roberts’ alleged offenses is extensive and stretches back nearly three decades. According to both DHS and ICE statements, Roberts’ criminal record includes:
- July 3, 1996: Charges in New York for criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell, criminal possession of narcotics, criminal possession of a forged instrument, and possession of a forgery device.
- November 13, 1998: Charge for third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle in Queens, New York, which was dismissed on July 6, 1999.
- November 1, 2012: Conviction for reckless driving, unsafe operation, and speeding in Maryland.
- February 3, 2020: Charges in New York for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (having a loaded firearm outside his home or business), third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (an ammunition feeding device), and fourth-degree weapon charges. The second-degree charge was described as "inchoate," meaning a substantial step toward committing the crime had been taken even if it was not completed.
- January 20, 2022: Conviction in Pennsylvania for unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, which resulted in a $100 fine.
Notably, the outcomes of some earlier cases—such as the 1996 drug and forgery charges—remain unclear, as detailed in The Des Moines Register. The 1998 unauthorized vehicle use charge was ultimately dismissed. The 2020 gun case in New York was previously sealed by the court, and some allegations were only revealed in the most recent DHS disclosures.
Roberts’ immigration history is equally complex. Born in Guyana, he first entered the United States on a B-2 tourist visa in 1994, according to ICE records. He departed and re-entered the country multiple times over the following years, most notably on an F-1 student visa starting in 1999. Over the next two decades, Roberts filed four separate applications for permanent residency (green cards)—in 2001, 2018 (twice), and 2020—all of which were denied. He intermittently held work authorization, with documents approved for periods between 2000 and 2001, and again from 2018 to 2020.
Legal troubles with immigration authorities followed him persistently. In 2004, an immigration judge in Texas ordered him deported. ICE reported that Roberts was issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge in October 2020 but failed to do so. He was then ordered deported in absentia on May 22, 2024, by a Dallas immigration judge. His motion to reopen the case was denied in April 2025. Despite these legal setbacks, Roberts managed to secure the superintendent position in Des Moines, a fact now under intense scrutiny.
The Des Moines Public Schools board, blindsided by the revelations, voted unanimously to accept Roberts’ resignation. District officials have since filed a lawsuit against the search firm that recommended Roberts for the superintendent role, citing that they were unaware of his criminal background and alleging falsehoods in his resume. Board chair Jackie Norris was unequivocal: “Ian Roberts should have never been presented as a finalist. If we knew what we knew now, he would have never been hired.”
The case has inflamed political rhetoric around immigration enforcement and school safety. On Fox News, the arrest was cited as evidence of the dangers posed by lax enforcement and insufficient background checks. “When ICE officers arrested this superintendent, he was in possession of an illegal handgun, a hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash,” McLaughlin emphasized, underscoring the perceived threat to student safety.
Roberts’ attorney, Alfredo Parrish, pushed back against the portrayal of his client as a dangerous criminal. “It seems to me by releasing this additional information, where it’s been out there the whole time, they’re trying to put it into one document to make Dr. Roberts look dangerous,” Parrish told The Des Moines Register. “It would serve no purpose, because at the end of the day, it’s just empty claims.” Parrish also noted that many of the cases did not result in convictions or were already known to authorities and the public.
Meanwhile, the school district’s hiring process is under the microscope. According to Fox News, the district board is reviewing how such a candidate was able to pass background checks and be recommended for a position overseeing thousands of children. The lawsuit against the search firm alleges negligence and a failure to properly vet Roberts’ credentials and criminal history.
The broader community reaction has been one of shock and concern. Parents, teachers, and local officials are demanding answers about how someone with such an extensive and checkered background could rise to the top of a major school district. The case has also reignited debate over the intersection of immigration enforcement, criminal justice, and public sector hiring—issues that are likely to remain contentious as the legal proceedings against Roberts move forward.
As Roberts sits in U.S. Marshals custody awaiting prosecution, the Des Moines community is left grappling with unanswered questions and a renewed focus on safeguarding the integrity of public institutions and the safety of children in their care.
