Des Moines School Superintendent Detained After Fleeing ICE Agents; Found With Gun, Knife, and $3,000 Cash

DES MOINES, IA - In what can be described as an unusual case involving an illegal alien, the superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district has been arrested by federal immigration authorities, KCCI in Des Moines reported. 

Dr. Ian Roberts was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Des Moines Public Schools. At the time, the school system hadn’t confirmed any information as to why Roberts was being detained. 

However, on Friday afternoon, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that ICE agents had taken Roberts into custody as part of a “targeted enforcement operation.” Also, based on the details of Roberts’ apprehension, he was evidently aware that he was in legal trouble. When ICE officers approached Roberts in his vehicle, he left at high speed and later abandoned his car near a wooded area, DHS said. 

This caused a large-scale search in the area of a mobile home park on the city’s south side, with federal agents and other law enforcement assets in the area for several hours. DHS called the Iowa State Patrol for assistance in locating Roberts. 

When found, Roberts had a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife.

“This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement,” ICE ERO St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson said. “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.” 

According to DHS, people without legal immigration status are prohibited by law from possessing a firearm and ammunition. 

The Des Moines Public Schools provided further information about Roberts and how someone with his criminal record and illegal immigration status was allowed to lead a school district with over 873 staff and 2,077 teachers covering 65 schools and nearly 34,000 students. 

In a press release, the district claimed Roberts underwent a “comprehensive background check” conducted by Baker-Eubanks before taking over the district in 2023. The district admitted that Roberts made them aware of a firearm charge related to a hunting rifle, and provided “sufficient context and explanation” for his application to move forward. 

The district said that Roberts was licensed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. 

The district said, however, that it was not aware that Roberts was subject to a final order of removal in May 2024 as announced by ICE in a news release. They also stated that there was a district policy prohibiting the possession of weapons on school grounds or at school-related activities. 

DHS said that Roberts entered the U.S. in 1999 from Guyana on a student visa. 

According to his biography, Roberts spent most of his childhood in Brooklyn, New York. He received his undergraduate education from Coppin State University, master’s degrees from St. John’s University and Georgetown University, and a doctorate from Trident University. 

Before coming to Des Moines, he was a superintendent at the Millcreek Township School District in Pennsylvania. He has also worked for school districts in St. Louis, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the South Bronx, New York. 

In response to Roberts’ arrest, Des Moines Public Schools Board President Jackie Norris stated that the associate superintendent will immediately assume the role of interim superintendent until further notice. 

“Our priority is to provide a safe, secure, and outstanding education for all students and to support our students, families, and employees,” Norris said. “The appointment of Mr. [Matt] Smith as Interim Superintendent ensures that our District continues to operate at the highest level.” 

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, was notified of the arrest and her office released a statement Friday afternoon:

“Governor Reynolds was made aware this morning that Ian Roberts was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents and is in contact with the Iowa Department of Public Safety and federal authorities.” 

The Iowa State Education Association and Des Moines Education Association released a statement Friday afternoon:

“We were shocked to hear of Dr. Ian Roberts’s detainment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents early this morning. Since being hired as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, we have known Dr. Roberts to be a tremendous advocate for students, families, staff, and the community. His leadership and compassion for all students, regardless of background, identity, or family origin, are a beacon of light in one of the state’s most diverse school districts. 

“It is a dark and unsettling time in our country. This incident has created tremendous fear for DMPS students, families, and staff. 

“We call on the community to come together and support each other.”

Exactly what one might expect from the educational community; ignore the fact that Roberts was subject to an order of removal, had a gun and knife on school property, and fled from law enforcement, endangering the public. 

The Des Moines Public Schools issued the following on Facebook: