DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Ian Roberts, the superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools, was put on administrative leave following his arrest by federal immigration agents on charges related to his immigration status. The school board of the largest school district in Iowa convened a special meeting where they unanimously voted to relieve Roberts of his duties.
School board president Jackie Norris described the day's events as a jarring experience but emphasized that additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding Roberts' arrest was still required.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that Roberts was apprehended while driving a school vehicle. He allegedly attempted to flee before being caught with the help of the Iowa State Patrol. According to ICE, Roberts has no authorization to work in the U.S. and is under a final removal order from 2024.
After his arrest, Roberts was detained at the Woodbury County Jail, located in Sioux City, approximately 150 miles from Des Moines.
Norris confirmed that the board was unaware of any citizenship or immigration issues associated with Roberts prior to this incident, addressing the seriousness of the allegations made against him.
Following his arrest, Roberts retained legal representation from a Des Moines law firm. A statement from the Iowa Department of Education indicated that Roberts previously identified himself as a U.S. citizen when applying for an administrator license; however, this is now under scrutiny.
Roberts' hiring involved a thorough background check, which reportedly did not highlight any concerns pertaining to his citizenship. In 1999, Roberts came to the U.S. on a student visa, and he has shared that he was born to immigrant parents from Guyana. He also has a background in athletics, having competed in the 2000 Olympics for Guyana.
Retired assistant commissioner of the Guyana Police Force, Paul Slowe, remembered Roberts as a determined individual who could have had a distinguished career in law enforcement had he not emigrated from Guyana. Slowe emphasized that Roberts left the police force voluntarily and with a good record.
As the situation unfolds, the Iowa Department of Education has announced a review of the processes in place to ensure that educational institutions are verifying the work eligibility of their administrators.
