Iowa school superintendent arrested by ICE on fugitive warrant
Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts was detained by federal immigration agents after a brief chase; officials say he was in the United States illegally and had a prior weapons case on file.
A Des Moines public schools superintendent was arrested Friday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a fugitive-warrant, authorities said. Ian Roberts, who leads Des Moines Public Schools, the largest district in the state, was taken into custody after fleeing pursuing agents. He sped away in a vehicle, which was later found abandoned, and an Iowa State Patrol K-9 helped search the area. Inside the vehicle, investigators found $3,000 in cash, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and a loaded Glock 19 handgun, ICE said. "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 Removal Operations St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson said. ICE noted the arrest followed a chase in which Roberts fled agents."
Roberts was living in the United States illegally, according to ICE. He was said to have entered the country from Guyana, most recently coming to the U.S. on Aug. 30, 1999, through New York on an F-1 student visa to attend St. John’s University in Queens. ICE said his employment authorization card expired in 2020, rendering him ineligible to work legally. Authorities also noted an earlier weapons possession case from Feb. 5, 2020, in which a Port Authority Police Department officer arrested him; those charges remain pending. On May 22, 2024, a judge ordered Roberts deported in absentia. An immigration judge in Dallas denied a motion to reopen the case on April 24, 2025.
Roberts was hired to serve as superintendent for Des Moines Public Schools on July 1, 2023, following a nationwide search. A district statement at the time said he was chosen based on leadership experience and input from staff, parents, students and community members. After the arrest, Des Moines Public Schools announced that Associate Superintendent Matt Smith would serve as interim superintendent until further notice.
Before entering education, Roberts competed for Guyana in track and field at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, according to local reports. He also has served on the board of the Directors Council, a coalition of nonprofits focused on Des Moines’ Black community. The group said Roberts had been a trusted partner and supporter of families and youth in Polk County and pledged support to him and his family “during this uncertain moment.”
The district and local community are awaiting additional information as federal authorities continue their review. DMPS said it remains focused on ensuring stability and integrity while providing updates as confirmed information becomes available. The situation underscores ongoing questions about employment authorization and oversight in education systems, though officials emphasized that investigations are ongoing and that the district will comply with all applicable laws and procedures.