DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — In a troubling turn of events for the Des Moines public school district, Superintendent Ian Roberts has been detained by immigration authorities. His attorneys have moved swiftly, filing a request with the federal immigration court in Omaha to delay deportation proceedings against him. Lawyer Alfredo Parrish, representing Roberts, did not disclose specifics about the sealed filing but indicated that a press conference would take place shortly.

Roberts, who is originally from Guyana, was arrested last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which claims he has been living and working unlawfully in the United States. Following his arrest, the Iowa state board promptly revoked his superintendent license.

In a decisive response, the Des Moines school board convened on Monday night and voted to place Roberts on unpaid leave. District chair Jackie Norris stated that Roberts must provide documentation verifying his legal right to work in the U.S. by noon on Tuesday, or face dismissal proceedings. A special session of the board could be organized as soon as Tuesday evening to further discuss the situation.

Currently, Roberts is being held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, Iowa, located about 150 miles northwest of Des Moines. The implications of this case could be significant given the size of the district, which serves over 30,000 students and employs nearly 5,000 individuals.