ICE Arrests Des Moines School Superintendent; Community Rallies Behind Him

ICE detained Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts in a Friday-morning targeted enforcement operation, authorities said, escalating a case that has unsettled the central Iowa school district. The agency described Roberts, 54, as a Guyanese citizen whose work permit expired in 2020 and who had a final removal order issued by an immigration judge in May 2024. ICE said Roberts attempted to flee when agents approached him, abandoning his vehicle near a wooded area before being taken into custody; agents recovered a loaded handgun, which ICE said violated federal law for individuals in the country illegally.

Roberts has long been seen by colleagues as a central figure in DMPS, a district that serves roughly 30,000 students and has relied on stable leadership during a period of rapid student and staff diversification. The arrest sparked a large, rapid outpouring of concern and protest in Des Moines, with hundreds of demonstrators gathering outside the federal courthouse over the weekend to call for his release. Some carried signs that read “Free Dr Roberts.” Teachers from neighboring districts joined students and parents, according to CNN. In a statement, the Des Moines school board said the district was caught by surprise and urged the community to practice “radical empathy” while the investigation proceeds.

Roberts’s bio on the DMPS website highlights two decades of work in urban education, including roles as a classroom teacher, administrator, and district leader in multiple cities. Born in Brooklyn to immigrant parents from Guyana, he later competed in track and field at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. He holds master’s degrees from St. John’s University and Georgetown University and a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Trident University. Prior to joining DMPS, his resume includes leadership posts in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., the South Bronx, and Millcreek Township, Pennsylvania; he was named George Washington University’s Washington, D.C., Principal of the Year in 2013.

ICE's release noted that Roberts had a prior weapon possession charge from 2020, a point the district says he disclosed during the hiring process and has discussed publicly. The district’s accounts emphasize that information about the arrest was disclosed and that Roberts’s background includes a lengthy record of service and accolades in education.

The arrest drew an immediate and polarized response from the community. Mazie Stilwell, executive director of Progress Iowa and a DMPS parent, called the detention an “attack on our freedoms,” urging residents to contact their legislators about detentions and saying, “No Iowan is safe.” Iowa State Education Association President Joshua Brown and Des Moines Education Association President Anne Cross said they were shocked by the detainment and described Roberts as a steadfast advocate for students, families, and staff while noting the fear it has created for DMPS students and employees.

Republicans and immigration officials criticized the school board for allowing a person they characterized as a public safety threat to work in the district for so long. ICE St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson said the incident should prompt scrutiny of how the district vetted a person who, according to ICE, had a final removal order and a prior firearms charge. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican and Senate candidate, urged that Roberts be deported immediately and argued schools should not be home to individuals with unresolved immigration status. Democratic Rep. Larry McBurney, by contrast, called the detention a “disgrace” and warned against politicizing schools in federal immigration enforcement.

The DMPS board said a special closed session was planned for Sept. 27 to discuss the situation further and determine next steps for the district. In the meantime, the district has stressed the importance of maintaining safety and continuity for students during what officials described as an unsettled and rapidly evolving situation, and it has pledged to provide updates as more information becomes available.

The incident comes as immigration enforcement accelerates under a broader national push that has drawn sharply divided opinions across parties. Federal data indicate that about seven in ten people detained by ICE have no criminal history, a statistic cited by critics of broad enforcement as evidence that actions reach beyond genuine safety threats. Supporters contend the crackdown targets individuals who pose a risk to public safety and community welfare, arguing that districts must operate within the confines of federal law. The unfolding case in Des Moines underscores how immigration policy intersects with local governance, school operation, and community trust at a moment of heightened national debate.