By Martin Shwenk Leade

Copyright indiatimes

Ian Andre Roberts is a veteran educator and former Olympian who served as a principal in Baltimore City School

Ian Roberts, Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent, was arrested by the US Immigration Customs Enforcement for allegedly being in the United States illegally, according to federal officials. Ian Roberts was arrested after fleeing into the woods during a traffic stop, shocking educators and the local community. He also faces a firearms offence.Originally from Guyana, Ian Roberts was in the US illegally and had no authorization for work, ICE officials said. His permit to work in the US expired in 2020. School district officials say they have not been told the circumstances of his arrest, and have called him an integral part of the school community.It comes amid a wider US crackdown on immigration, as President Donald Trump seeks to deport all illegal migrants.ALSO READ: Makena White’s heartbreaking final message to US golfer Jake Knapp revealed after tragic death at 28Who is Ian Roberts?According to CBS News, Dr. Ian Andre Roberts is a veteran educator and former Olympian who served as a principal in Baltimore City Schools. His arrest on Friday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent shockwaves through Des Moines, Iowa, where he has been a superintendent for the past two years. Now, Roberts is in ICE custody, and his future is uncertain. Ian Roberts completed his graduation from Coppin State University in 1998. “I am awakened every day believing that each day gives me an opportunity to be a blessing to someone and leave an indelible impact on many people,” he said in a school profile. Live EventsRoberts, a native of Guyana, is Coppin’s first Olympic athlete. He was the founding principal of Friendship Academy of Science and Technology in Baltimore and served as the Director of School Turnaround and principal of the Academies at Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C.ALSO READ: Makena White cause of death revealed? Jake Knapp breaks silence on girlfriend’s demise at 28. Check details”My steps have been divinely guided during the past thirty years, and I am confident that they will continue to be guided,” he said in the Coppin article. “One day, I hope to return to my birthplace of Guyana, South America, as a public servant.”Ian Roberts earned a $270,000 annual base salary and holds a professional administrator license issued by the state board of educational examiners in 2023. District leaders described him as a dynamic and engaged educator.Why Ian Roberts has been arrestedTricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed Ian Roberts’ arrest and detention, adding that a court had issued a “final order of removal” in May 2024 for the deportation of the Guyana native and longtime US resident.Tricia McLaughlin said Roberts abandoned his car and fled from police on Friday. He was allegedly in possession of a loaded handgun, a large amount of cash and a hunting knife. He was arrested in what DHS described as a “targeted enforcement operation.”ALSO READ: Erika Kirk knew Trump long before she met Charlie? Romania charity allegations set internet ablazeRoberts, 54, has served as Des Moines Public Schools superintendent since July 2023. In an emailed statement, DHS called Roberts a “criminal illegal alien.” Roberts allegedly sped away when officers approached his vehicle and identified themselves, and officers found his vehicle abandoned in a nearby wooded area. Inside was the handgun, $3,000 in cash and the hunting knife, the department said.DHS states that Roberts has “existing weapon possession charges” from Feb. 5, 2020. “Dr. Roberts has a previous firearm charge related to a hunting rifle, which he disclosed to the DMPS Board during the hiring process. He provided sufficient context and explanation of the situation to move forward in the hiring process. He has also spoken publicly about this experience,” DMPS said in a release. However, that charge was from 2021 in Pennsylvania. The DHS statement says Roberts entered the United States on a student visa in 1999. It also states that Roberts was working for the school district despite having no work authorization.ALSO READ: Voddie Baucham’s chilling final message for Charlie Kirk emerges after pastor’s death”This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson said. “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. How this illegal alien was hired without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension and should alarm the parents of that school district.”DHS also accused Roberts of violating federal law by possessing a handgun while in the U.S. without legal authorization, and said it was referring him to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for further investigation.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
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