Des Moines School Superintendent Placed on Leave Following Immigration Arrest
Des Moines School Superintendent Placed on Leave Following Immigration Arrest
DES MOINES, Iowa — The leader of Iowa’s largest school district, Superintendent Ian Roberts, was placed on administrative leave Saturday, just a day after his arrest by federal immigration agents who allege he was in the country illegally.
The Des Moines school board unanimously voted for Roberts’ paid leave during a brief special meeting, stating he was unavailable to perform his duties for the 30,000-student district. The board indicated it would reassess his status once more information becomes available.
School board president Jackie Norris expressed the board’s shock, noting they were unaware of any citizenship or immigration issues Roberts might have faced. She confirmed the district had conducted background checks prior to his 2023 hiring, which did not flag any problems, and that Roberts had signed a form affirming U.S. citizenship.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that agents detained Roberts because he was in the country illegally, lacked work authorization, and was subject to a final removal order issued in 2024. ICE agents stated Roberts fled into a wooded area after being stopped while driving a school-issued vehicle, before being apprehended with assistance from Iowa State Patrol. He is currently held in Woodbury County Jail.
The Iowa Department of Education has also confirmed Roberts stated he was a U.S. citizen when applying for his administrator license and is now reviewing the Des Moines district’s hiring procedures for compliance with work authorization requirements. Roberts, who previously stated he was born to Guyanese immigrants and competed for Guyana in the 2000 Olympics, reportedly entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.