The largest school district in Iowa was rocked on Friday after federal authorities revealed its superintendent was living in the U.S. illegally.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, head of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested after evading officers and leading them on a pursuit.
Roberts, a native of Guyana and former Olympic runner, had been under a deportation order since May 2024.
“ICE Des Moines today arrested Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien from Guyana in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash and a fixed blade hunting knife,” ICE said in a statement. “At the time of his arrest Roberts was working as the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools despite being an illegal alien with a final order of removal and no work authorization.”
Roberts fled when agents identified themselves, according to ICE. He reportedly sped away in his vehicle before abandoning it on the roadside.
Iowa State Patrol assisted, and a K9 unit tracked him down in a wooded area about 200 yards from the car, per Trending Politics.
The search of Roberts’ vehicle uncovered a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash, raising serious questions about why a sitting superintendent would carry weapons and cash while under an active deportation order. ICE also noted that Roberts had a prior weapons arrest from 2020, though the outcome of that case is unclear.
Roberts had led Des Moines Public Schools since 2023. The district educates over 30,000 students. Parents and taxpayers are expressing outrage over the revelation.
Roberts first came to the U.S. in 1999 on a student visa to attend St. John’s University. Authorities say he overstayed the visa and was ordered removed from the country in absentia on May 22, 2024. His attempt to reopen the case in April 2025 was denied by an immigration judge in Dallas, leaving the deportation order in effect.
Despite the ruling, Roberts remained in Iowa, drawing a public salary while running the state’s largest school district.
Jackie Norris, president of the Des Moines school board, announced that associate superintendent Matt Smith would assume the district on an interim basis.
“We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps,” Norris wrote on Facebook.
The arrest adds to mounting concerns about illegal immigrants occupying positions of authority in public institutions. ICE emphasized that Roberts’ arrest was the result of careful enforcement.
“Roberts was living and working in the United States illegally, with a history of evading federal authorities,” a senior ICE official said. “The operation was carried out with assistance from local law enforcement and followed all necessary protocols to ensure public safety.”
The investigation is ongoing, and questions remain about how Roberts was able to maintain his position despite his immigration status.
Parents, educators, and taxpayers are demanding accountability, and the incident has ignited debate over hiring policies and background checks in public school systems.
As the district adjusts to interim leadership, federal authorities continue to review Roberts’ case and potential additional violations.
