Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested the chief administrator for Des Moines, Iowa, public schools on Friday, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to Newsweek.
Why It Matters
The reported detention of Superintendent Ian Roberts has raised questions about immigration policy enforcement in Iowa, the leadership status of the state’s largest school district, and the broader community response.
Roberts, who oversees the education of roughly 30,000 students, is a visible leader in Iowa’s capital. According to the Associated Press, citing the school district’s website, Roberts was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and lived in Brooklyn, New York, as a child.
The event comes amid a marked increase in ICE arrests and deportations under President Donald Trump, reflecting national trends and heightened local concerns about immigration enforcement.
What To Know
Federal immigration agents detained Roberts on Friday morning, as confirmed by both the school board and federal officials.
ICE records indicate that Roberts is in the agency’s custody, reportedly housed at the Pottawattamie County Jail. However, a jail employee stated that he is not currently at that facility, according to the Associated Press.
The district’s latest statement by School Board President Jackie Norris on Facebook acknowledged the arrest but noted, “We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps.”
Norris also said in the post: “Pursuant to the Board-approved DMPS leadership succession plan, Matt Smith, Associate Superintendent, will immediately step into the role of Interim Superintendent until further notice. This action follows Dr. Ian Roberts being detained by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents this morning. We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps.”
“Our priority is to provide a safe, secure and outstanding education for all students and to support our students, families, and employees. The appointment of Mr. Smith as Interim Superintendent ensures that our District continues to operate at the highest level,” Norris added.
Fox News’ Bill Melugin first reported the news on X on Friday, writing: “A senior ICE official tells @FoxNews that today, ICE arrested the Superintendent of Des Moines, Iowa Public Schools, Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, who ICE says is an illegal alien from Guyana & and active ICE fugitive with a deportation order since May 2024. Fox is told Dr. Roberts fled from ICE agents in his car once they ID’d themselves as immigration agents, speeding away, then abandoning the car. He was found in a brushy area 200 yards away with the help of an Iowa State Police K9. Per ICE official, agents found a loaded gun, a ‘fixed blade hunting knife’, and $3,000 cash in Dr. Robert’s vehicle.”
DHS shared a news release from ICE with Newsweek, accompanied by a comment from ICE ERO St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson.
Olson said, “This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement.”
“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,” Olson said.
The release from ICE also included a photo of the loaded handgun authorities say Roberts had in his possession at the time of arrest on Friday.
What People Are Saying
Representative Larry McBurney, an Iowa Democrat, on Facebook on Friday: “Like many of you, I’m furious to learn that Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, has been detained by ICE. This is not only unacceptable, it is an outright disgrace. Our schools should never be treated as political battlegrounds for federal overreach.
McBurney added: “I hold President Trump and Iowa’s delegation – Congressman Zach Nunn, Senator Chuck Grassley, and Senator Joni Ernst – directly responsible for this action. Their silence or complicity will not go unnoticed. If they have any shred of leadership, they must intervene immediately. I’ve reached out to each of their offices. Senator Grassley’s staff admitted they’re aware of the situation, but the first question they asked me was: ‘Is he here legally?’ That’s not a serious question; it’s an excuse to dodge responsibility. Let me be crystal clear: I am appalled. The idea of ICE raiding our schools and removing a highly respected leader from our community is a stain on Iowa and on America. It undermines trust, threatens stability, and sends a chilling message to educators and families across the state.”
“Our federal delegation must do more than shrug. They must act and act now. Anything less is cowardice,” he concluded.
Nathan Sage, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa, on X on Friday: “Yesterday it was Jorge Elieser González Ochoa. Today it’s DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts. This is unacceptable. Iowans deserve answers and accountability from federal authorities. We cannot stay silent as members of our community are being swept away without cause.”
What Happens Next
The Des Moines Public Schools district has installed interim leadership assuming the superintendent role on a temporary basis. The district pledged to inform the community as more information becomes available.
