Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Friday morning, September 26. He is currently held at the Pottawattamie County Jail, according to federal and local authorities.
Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris confirmed the detention, saying: “We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps.”
Norris added that Associate Superintendent Matt Smith will serve as interim superintendent until further notice. Smith previously served as interim superintendent during the 2022-23 school year.
Online records confirm Roberts is in ICE custody at the county jail near the Omaha Immigration Court, the closest federal immigration court to Des Moines.
Who Is Dr. Ian Roberts?
Dr. Ian Roberts became superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools on July 1, 2023, after a months-long search by the school board. He succeeded longtime superintendent Tom Ahart.
Roberts, the son of Guyanese immigrants, has a diverse background spanning athletics and education. He competed for Guyana in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games as a middle-distance runner.
With over 20 years in education, Roberts has held teaching and administrative positions in urban districts, including Baltimore, Washington D.C., the South Bronx, and St. Louis. Before joining Des Moines Public Schools, he was superintendent of Millcreek Township, Pennsylvania for three years.
Details of the ICE Arrest
ICE reported that Dr. Roberts was detained during a “targeted enforcement operation” after allegedly being found in possession of a loaded handgun, cash, and a hunting knife. Authorities stated he tried to evade arrest.
ICE officials noted Roberts was in the U.S. on an expired student visa and had received a final order of removal in May 2024. The agency also cited existing weapons charges from 2020, but did not provide further details.
Sam Olson, director of the St. Paul enforcement and removal field office, 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. 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.”
The Iowa Department of Public Safety assisted ICE after receiving a request to help locate an individual who fled from a traffic stop.
Roberts’ Background With Firearms
Court records from 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 involved a citation issued while hunting on state lands.
Roberts explained at the time: “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.”
He noted that he left his hunting rifle on the seat of his vehicle in plain view to avoid alarming the officer and questioned whether his skin color played a role in the citation.
Reaction From Schools and Community
The detention of Dr. Roberts shocked the Des Moines school community. Union leaders representing teachers and staff said: “His leadership and compassion for all students, regardless of background, identity, or family origin, are a beacon of light in one of the state’s most diverse school districts. It is a dark and unsettling time in our country. This incident has created tremendous fear for DMPS students, families, and staff.” — Joshua Brown, Iowa State Education Association & Anne Cross, Des Moines Education Association.
Broader ICE Activity in Iowa
This incident comes shortly after another aggressive ICE action in Iowa, when agents arrested a man at a grocery store in downtown Iowa City in plain clothes, handcuffing him in front of shocked shoppers.
Developing Story
Dr. Ian Roberts, 52, oversees a district serving 30,000 students. He was born to Guyanese immigrants and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. More updates will follow as information about his detention and the investigation becomes available.
