The superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Ian Roberts, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on Friday morning and found with weapons and cash, as reported by ICE. The arrest has stirred reactions among school officials and politicians, with some advocating for empathy while others express concern about Roberts’ background, including a prior weapons charge and deportation order.
Initially, ICE’s online records indicated Roberts was held in Pottawattamie County Jail, but his details were later removed from the ICE website. According to an ICE press release, Roberts was found with a handgun, hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash. The arrest occurred during a targeted enforcement operation when Roberts allegedly fled from officers, later abandoning his vehicle.
The Iowa State Patrol assisted ICE in locating Roberts’ vehicle, as stated in a release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety. ICE revealed Roberts has prior weapon possession charges from 2020, though these could not be independently verified. Court records from Erie, Pa., show Roberts pled guilty to unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle in 2021.
Roberts was ordered for removal by an immigration judge in May 2024, after entering the U.S. on a student visa in 1999. ICE’s St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson commented, “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.”
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds was informed of the arrest and remains in contact with state and federal authorities. U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn emphasized the need to reform the immigration system, stating that Roberts’ position of trust was inappropriate given his prior charges and deportation order.
The school district, with limited information, acknowledged the arrest at a press conference. School board president Jackie Norris urged for “radical empathy” as the community navigates this situation. Roberts was licensed to serve as superintendent in July 2023 by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.
—
Read More Montana News
