Des Moines school district chief detained by ICE, district confirms

The head administrator of Des Moines Public Schools was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday morning, the district confirmed.

Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian A. Roberts, 52, was detained by ICE agents on Friday morning, according to Des Moines Public Schools Board president Jackie Norris. Norris said in a statement that the board is aware of the detention and that the district has no confirmed information on why he was detained or what happens next. The district added that it does not have additional information to share at this time.

ICE records show Roberts in custody at a county jail in western Iowa, but a Pottawattamie County jail employee said he is not currently held there. An ICE spokesperson did not respond to inquiries, and a regional ICE office in St. Paul, Minnesota, offered no information when contacted. The discrepancy in custody location was reflected in multiple ICE records reviewed by The Associated Press-style outlets accompanying this report.

Roberts began his term as Des Moines Public Schools superintendent in July 2023. The district serves about 30,000 students across its classrooms and facilities. The district did not specify a timeline for when updates might be available or who would lead the district in the interim if a replacement is needed.

A district biography included on its website indicates that Roberts was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and spent much of his childhood in Brooklyn, New York. Coppin State University’s alumni profile shows Roberts graduating in 1998 in Baltimore, reflecting a personal narrative his biography connects to his professional path in education. The district did not provide any additional information about his background beyond what is listed in its public bios.

Roberts’ background includes early life experiences described in district materials and university profiles that emphasize his immigrant roots and geographic mobility. Those details are part of the public record used by the district to frame leadership profiles for the community.

As the district awaits further updates from ICE and Federal authorities, the school system has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining operations and supporting students and staff during what officials described as an rapidly evolving situation. The district’s communications office has advised families and staff to monitor official channels for new information as it becomes available.

The incident draws attention to how immigration enforcement actions can affect public institutions and leadership in districts nationwide, though authorities have not tied this detention to any specific district policy or action. For now, the district says it will continue to operate normally and provide updates when they can.

The district confirmed Roberts’ leadership tenure began in July 2023, a period during which Des Moines Public Schools has navigated the typical cycle of administrative transitions, budget considerations, and ongoing school operations. The absence of a confirmed statement from ICE or from the superintendent’s office has limited the information available to the public, but district officials have stressed their obligation to keep families informed as the situation develops.

While no immediate replacement information has been released, the district indicated it will share updates as soon as they are confirmed. In the meantime, Des Moines Public Schools continues to provide education to roughly 30,000 students across its campuses and programs, with district staff and administrators continuing to support teaching and learning amid the ongoing federal matter.