Immigration brokers have arrested the superintendent of Des Moines public colleges.
Ian Roberts, the primary Black superintendent of Iowa’s largest faculty district and a former Olympic monitor athlete who competed for Guyana within the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was “detained by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers this morning,” the varsity district said in a press release.
“We now have no confirmed data as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the subsequent potential steps,” the district added whereas naming an interim superintendent.
At a press convention, Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines faculty board, mentioned the district “didn’t have all of the info,” however known as Roberts “an integral a part of our college neighborhood since he joined over two years in the past.”
Roberts joined the district in 2023 and “has held academic management positions in districts throughout the U.S. for 20 years,” Norris mentioned.
The Iowa Board of Academic Examiners issued Roberts a license to function a superintendent in Iowa in 2023, Norris added, earlier than referring to “new data that has been made public that we didn’t know, and we’ve not been capable of confirm, as as to if that data is correct.” Officers didn’t take questions on the press convention.
In a follow-up electronic mail, Phil Roeder, a spokesperson for Des Moines Public Faculties, mentioned the agency JG Consulting had recognized Roberts as a candidate for the superintendent function, “and a third-party complete background test was carried out by Baker-Eubanks.” Roeder added that Roberts had accomplished an I-9 employment eligibility verification type.
“The district has not been formally notified by ICE about this matter, nor have we been capable of discuss with Dr. Roberts since his detention,” the e-mail added.
ICE confirmed Roberts’ arrest in a press launch and mentioned he got here to the USA on a scholar visa in 1999 and was given a remaining order of elimination by an immigration choose final 12 months. The company alleged Roberts was working as a superintendent with out work authorization.
The discharge additional alleged: “Throughout a focused enforcement operation on Sept. 26, 2025, officers approached Roberts in his car after figuring out himself, however he sped away. Officers later found his car deserted close to a wooded space. State Patrol assisted in finding the topic and he was taken into ICE custody.”
“This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a car supplied by Des Moines Public Faculties after fleeing federal legislation enforcement,” ICE’s Enforcement and Removing Operations St. Paul Subject Workplace Director Sam Olson is quoted as saying. ICE additionally alleged Roberts had $3,000 in money and a fixed-blade searching knife when he was arrested.
After an unrelated incident in 2022, Roberts mentioned he was a licensed hunter and gun proprietor, The Associated Press reported.
“The investigation into how Roberts acquired the handgun is being turned over to the ATF,” ICE’s launch mentioned. “It’s a violation of federal legislation for these within the U.S. with out authorized standing to own a firearm and ammunition.”
It wasn’t instantly clear whether or not Roberts has authorized illustration.
As of Friday afternoon, ICE’s on-line detainee locator listed Roberts as being held at Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The itemizing reveals Roberts’ nation of delivery as Guyana.
