The superintendent of Iowa's largest public school district has been placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Officials allege the superintendent, Dr. Ian Roberts, is in the country illegally and was subject to a final removal order.
The Des Moines Public Schools board voted unanimously on Saturday to suspend Roberts from his duties, citing his unavailability to lead the 30,000-student district. The decision came one day after his arrest by federal agents.
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested by ICE for alleged immigration violations.
- The school board has placed him on paid administrative leave pending further information.
- ICE stated Roberts was in the U.S. illegally, lacked work authorization, and had a removal order from 2024.
- District and state officials said Roberts affirmed he was a U.S. citizen during hiring and licensing, and background checks revealed no issues.
Details of the Arrest and School Board Action
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Dr. Ian Roberts on Friday, September 26, 2025. According to an ICE statement, agents stopped Roberts while he was driving a vehicle issued by the school district.
The agency reported that Roberts then fled on foot into a nearby wooded area. He was apprehended shortly after with assistance from the Iowa State Patrol. He is currently being held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, approximately 150 miles from Des Moines.
In response, the Des Moines school board convened a special meeting on Saturday morning. The session, which lasted only three minutes, resulted in a unanimous vote to place Roberts on paid administrative leave. The board stated it would re-evaluate his employment status as more facts become available.
Immediate District Response
Following the brief meeting, school board president Jackie Norris addressed the situation publicly. She described the news of the arrest as a "jarring day" for the district and the community, emphasizing that the board was still gathering information.
Allegations of Unlawful Presence
ICE officials have outlined serious allegations against Roberts. The agency claims he was present in the country illegally, did not have the required authorization to work in the United States, and was subject to a final order of removal issued in 2024.
"I want to be clear, no one here was aware of any citizenship or immigration issues that Dr. Roberts may have been facing," Jackie Norris stated. "The accusations ICE had made against Dr. Roberts are very serious, and we are taking them very seriously."
According to ICE records, Roberts initially entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa. This information contrasts with the public understanding of his background. Roberts had previously stated that he was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and spent a significant part of his childhood in Brooklyn, New York.
Roberts has retained the Des Moines law firm of Parrish Kruidenier LLP to represent him. Attorney Alfredo Parrish confirmed his firm was handling the case but declined to provide further comment on the specific allegations.
Hiring Process and Background Checks Under Review
Both the Des Moines school district and the Iowa Department of Education have stated that their vetting processes did not uncover any issues with Roberts' citizenship status. Norris reiterated that the district conducted a background check before his hiring in 2023.
Multiple Layers of Vetting
A third-party firm hired by the district to assist with the superintendent search also conducted "comprehensive criminal, credit and background checks" on Roberts. Norris confirmed that none of these checks indicated any citizenship problems.
Furthermore, Norris stated that Roberts signed an I-9 form, a federal document used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States, in which he affirmed he was a U.S. citizen.
The Iowa Department of Education released a parallel statement on Saturday. Officials confirmed that Roberts also declared he was a U.S. citizen when he applied for his state administrator license. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners conducted state and federal criminal history checks before issuing the license, which revealed no flags.
The state education department is now reviewing the Des Moines district's hiring procedures to ensure compliance with federal employment authorization laws.
Roberts' Public Profile and Background
Dr. Ian Roberts was a public figure with a compelling personal story. He was known as a former Olympic athlete, having competed in track and field for his native Guyana in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Before his career in education, Roberts served in the Guyana Police Force. Paul Slowe, a retired assistant commissioner of the force, recalled Roberts as a disciplined and promising middle-distance runner who could have had a successful career in law enforcement had he not emigrated.
"He served for a few years and then left. He was not dismissed or dishonorably discharged at all; he just moved on," Slowe told The Associated Press. He described the younger Roberts as a "good, promising and disciplined man."
This background, combined with his academic career, contributed to his selection as the leader for Iowa's largest school system. The current allegations from federal authorities present a starkly different narrative, leaving the Des Moines community and school officials seeking clarity on the situation.
