Des Moines, Iowa, is reeling after the arrest and resignation of its public school superintendent, Dr. Ian Roberts, whose sudden fall from grace has sent shockwaves through the city, the state, and even national education circles. The saga, which began with a dramatic Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation on Friday, September 26, 2025, has raised thorny questions about immigration enforcement, vetting in public education, and the challenges of leadership in America’s schools.
Roberts, a native of Guyana, was hired in March 2023 as the first Black superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district. Known for his colorful suits and his philosophy of “radical empathy,” Roberts quickly became a familiar figure in Des Moines. According to the Des Moines Register, he brought with him a resume that spanned public and charter schools in California, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. However, as recent investigations have revealed, parts of that resume were not what they seemed.
The drama began on the morning of September 26, when ICE agents staged a targeted operation to apprehend Roberts, who was under a final order of removal issued in May 2024 for overstaying a student visa from 1999. When agents approached him in his vehicle, Roberts fled. The car was later found abandoned near a wooded area, and with the help of the Iowa State Patrol, Roberts was taken into custody. According to ICE, a search of the vehicle turned up $3,000 in cash, a loaded handgun, and a hunting knife. While Iowa law allows citizens to carry handguns, that law does not apply to those without legal status, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is now investigating how Roberts acquired the firearm.
Roberts’ arrest stunned the community. The Des Moines School Board moved quickly, placing him on unpaid leave by Monday, September 29, and accepting his resignation in a special meeting on Tuesday, October 1. Board President Jackie Norris, who is also a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, addressed the public before the unanimous vote: “For all of us, this is not what we anticipated when we welcomed Dr. Ian Roberts into Central Iowa and the Des Moines School District a little more than two years ago. It’s a sad and troubling end for an individual who gave many people—especially our students—hope.”
The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners stripped Roberts of his administrator license on Sunday, September 28, effectively barring him from serving as superintendent anywhere in the state. Roberts was initially held at the Pottawattamie County Jail before being transferred to the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center in Sioux City, where he remains as of Wednesday, October 1.
The fallout from Roberts’ arrest has been swift and multifaceted. Students across Des Moines staged walkouts and rallies in support of their former superintendent. According to Iowa Starting Line, there was a large demonstration outside the Neal Smith Federal Building on Friday and another outside the Woodbury County jail on Saturday. Teachers, parents, and students took to social media to voice their support, with the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP reporting that Roberts "is in good spirits and that his faith in God will sustain him."
Yet, behind the outpouring of support, a series of troubling questions have emerged about Roberts’ background. An investigation by the Des Moines Register confirmed that while Roberts earned an undergraduate degree from Coppin State University in Baltimore and a master’s from St. John’s University in New York, he did not hold a doctoral degree from Morgan State University as previously claimed, nor did he have an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Moreover, claims of a "Principal of the Year" award from George Washington University were also unsubstantiated. Roberts’ attorney, Alfredo Parrish, countered that his client holds a doctorate from Trident University International, an online institution based in Arizona.
Roberts’ legal status has proven equally murky. ICE asserts that he entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, but there is evidence, including a 1999 Newsweek article, that he had been in the U.S. since at least 1994, possibly earlier. Roberts reportedly signed an I-9 form indicating he was eligible to work in the U.S. and provided a driver’s license and Social Security card. When pressed by reporters about the Social Security number, Parrish responded, “This is one of those things I’m able to respond to, but, quite frankly, I don’t want to respond at this point. But, as you may or may not know, certain people coming into this country are entitled to get Social Security numbers. We thoroughly checked that out; that’s not our concern.”
Parrish also emphasized the complexity of the case, telling reporters, “It’s complex, it’s difficult.” He stated that Roberts believed his immigration issues were resolved after receiving a letter from a previous attorney in April 2025, which he interpreted as closing the matter in his favor. Since the arrest, Roberts’ legal team has filed motions to stay the deportation order and to reopen his immigration case, citing difficulties in accessing court records and the confusing nature of his immigration history.
Roberts’ case has drawn sharp political reactions. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican congressional representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate, called for Roberts’ immediate deportation, posting on social media, “He should be deported immediately. He should have never been anywhere around Iowa kids in the first place!” Governor Kim Reynolds described the arrest as shocking but underscored the need to enforce immigration laws, stating, “Those who believe immigration laws are optional are dangerously wrong. When laws are ignored, or when people are led to believe there will be no consequences, our communities are at risk. Iowans won’t stand for that.” Rep. Zach Nunn, another Iowa Republican, initially called for transparency from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, but later criticized the fact that Roberts was able to work while under a final deportation order and without legal authorization.
The federal government has also launched a civil rights investigation into the Des Moines Public Schools’ hiring and employment practices. The Department of Justice will examine whether the district’s efforts to diversify its staff and its “3D Coalition” program for recruiting minority teachers comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated, “DEI initiatives and race-based hiring preferences in our schools violate federal anti-discrimination laws and undermine educational priorities.”
Meanwhile, Roberts’ supporters maintain their faith in his leadership and character, with many arguing that the district’s students and community have lost a passionate advocate. But for now, Des Moines is left grappling with the fallout—a district without a superintendent, a community divided, and a high-profile case that’s far from resolved.
