U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 26 detained Dr. Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Iowa’s largest public school district. The Des Moines Public Schools confirmed Roberts’ detention, saying in a statement from school board President Jackie Norris, “We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps.”

Roberts has served as superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district (with more than 30,000 students) since July 2023. He has presided over efforts to improve student performance and attendance, reduce out-of-school suspensions that can lead to higher drop-out rates, and address food insecurity.

Roberts’ official bio states that he “was born to immigrant parents from Guyana, and spent most of his formative years in Brooklyn” (New York City). As a middle distance runner specializing in the 800 meters, he won several titles at the collegiate level in the U.S. and competed in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, representing Guyana.

Associate Superintendent Matt Smith has stepped in as interim superintendent, according to a statement from the Des Moines Public Schools (enclosed in full below). I will update this post as more details become available.

As of the afternoon of September 26, the ICE website indicates that Roberts is being detained at the Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs.

UPDATE: Fox News was first to report that ICE officials claimed Roberts “first entered the U.S. in 1999 on a F-1 student visa at St. John’s University was ordered removed from the United States on May 22, 2024, with proceedings being held in absentia. On April 24, 2025, an Immigration Judge in Dallas, TX denied a Motion to Reopen his immigration case.”

Roberts, who is 54 years old, has long said he grew up in Brooklyn.

From the Des Moines Register’s story by Samantha Hernandez and William Morris:

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed Roberts’ Friday, Sept. 26, arrest and detention and said a court had issued a “final order of removal” in May 2024 for the deportation of the Guyana native and longtime U.S. resident.

She said Roberts abandoned his car and fled from police on Friday, and was allegedly in possession of a loaded handgun, a large amount of cash and a hunting knife. He was arrested in what DHS described as a “targeted enforcement operation.” […]

“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 Enforcement and Removal Operations 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.”

Hannah Fingerhut and Ryan Foley provided more context on the weapons charge in this story for the Associated Press:

ICE pointed to a prior weapons charge for Roberts but provided no details.

Court records in Pennsylvania show that Roberts pleaded guilty in January 2022 to a minor infraction for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle, and was fined $100 plus court costs. The case stemmed from a citation in Erie County issued the prior month by a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer, who stopped Roberts as he was finishing a day of deer hunting on state lands.

Roberts said at the time he was a longtime licensed hunter and gun owner, and that he left his hunting rifle on the seat of his vehicle in plain view to ensure the officer did not feel threatened during their interaction. He said that he was shocked when the officer cited him for doing so, but that he pleaded guilty to avoid any distraction. He questioned whether his dark skin may have played a role in the case.

“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,” Roberts wrote on a social media post then.

At a news conference at 3:00 PM on September 26, Des Moines School Board chair Jackie Norris said, “We do not have all the facts. There is much we do not know,” she said. “However, what we do know is Dr. Roberts has been an integral part of our school community since he joined two years ago.”

The school district released another statement about the situation shortly before 6:00 PM.

The following provides some additional information in regard to this situation: 

• The DMPS Board retained JG Consulting to conduct a search for the DMPS Superintendency. The firm identified Dr. Roberts as a candidate and a third-party comprehensive background check was conducted by Baker-Eubanks. (Information about the Superintendent search process can be located on the DMPS website)
• Employers, including DMPS, are required to verify employment eligibility for all employees. In this case, Dr. Roberts completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted the required documentation. 
• Dr. Roberts was licensed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners in July 2023 and has held education leadership positions in the United States for over 20 years. 
• The district has not been formally notified by ICE about this matter, nor have we been able to talk with Dr. Roberts since his detention. 
• A news release distributed by ICE states Dr. Roberts was issued a final order of removal by an Immigration Judge in May 2024. The district did not have any knowledge of this situation or the order of removal. 
• It has been reported that a loaded gun was found in a district vehicle that was provided to Dr. Roberts for his use. DMPS policy states weapons are prohibited on school grounds or at a school sponsored or school related activity.   
• Dr. Roberts has a previous firearm charge related to a hunting rifle which he disclosed to the DMPS Board during the hiring process. He provided sufficient context and explanation of the situation to move forward in the hiring process.  He has also spoken publicly about this experience.
• The Des Moines School Board has scheduled a special session for Saturday, September 27 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss this personnel matter in closed session.  The Board will also take action regarding Dr. Roberts’ administrative leave status following closed session. 

During a panel discussion at the Iowa Summit on Justice and Disparities in November 2023, Roberts said the school district was “changing its hiring policy related to applicant’s criminal records,” Dana James reported for Black Iowa News.

Roberts said someone with a misdemeanor or felony in their background from 1986, that doesn’t include sex offenses or student offenses, for example, could be considered for employment.   

“So what happens is now we have individuals that not only served their time, have paid their debt to society, are now doing well in our communities, but we are still saying that they are not eligible to be a part of the educational journey of our students,” Roberts said. ”People are so much better than the worst thing they’ve ever done.” 

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Appendix: Statement from Des Moines School Board President Jackie Norris, released by the school district on September 26:

On behalf of the Board of the Des Moines Public Schools, I wish to share information of immediate importance to the DMPS community. 

Pursuant to the Board-approved DMPS leadership succession plan, Matt Smith, Associate Superintendent, will immediately step into the role of Interim Superintendent until further notice. This action follows Dr. Ian Roberts being detained by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents this morning. We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps.

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

Mr. Smith previously served DMPS as Interim Superintendent during the 2022-2023 school year.  The Board has the highest confidence in Mr. Smith’s leadership at this time. We know you have many questions, and we will provide updates as we learn more confirmed information. We thank you and appreciate your support.