Nationwide — Ian Andre Roberts, a superintendent of a public school district in Des Moines, Iowa, was arrested Friday by federal immigration agents who said he was in the country illegally and without authorization to work. Roberts, a native of Guyana, also faces past and new firearm-related concerns.
Roberts has led Des Moines Public Schools since July 2023. The district described him as a career educator with more than 20 years of experience. He previously served as superintendent in Pennsylvania and Missouri.
According to NBC News, ICE said Roberts entered the U.S. in 1999 on a student visa. In May 2024, an immigration judge issued a final order of removal. Despite that ruling, he worked in Iowa without legal status or a work permit. ICE also noted he had prior weapon possession charges from 2020.
On Friday morning, agents approached Roberts while he sat in a vehicle. He drove away but was later found near a wooded area with help from the Iowa State Patrol. ICE said he was carrying a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a hunting knife at the time of his arrest. Federal law bars people without legal status from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is investigating how he obtained the handgun. ICE officials also raised concerns over how Roberts was hired despite a removal order, no work authorization, and a previous firearm charge.
The Des Moines School Board confirmed the arrest. Chair Jackie Norris said Roberts had passed a third-party background check, completed required employment forms, and disclosed an earlier firearm charge during the hiring process. The district added that it had no knowledge of the 2024 removal order.
Roberts has since been placed on administrative leave. District leaders urged the community to show “radical empathy” and acknowledged his contributions to the school system.
His biography noted his immigrant background, academic achievements, and experience as an Olympian in track and field at the 2000 Sydney Games. He also earned advanced degrees and certifications, including one from Harvard University.