Des Moines School District Sues Consulting Firm After Superintendent’s ICE Detainment, Immigration Scandal Unfolds

The Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) board has initiated legal action against JG Consulting, the executive search firm responsible for hiring former Superintendent Ian Roberts, following his recent detainment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Roberts, 54, was taken into custody in September 2025 after federal authorities revealed he is not legally in the U.S. and has lacked work authorization since 2020, leading to his resignation this week.

DMPS board chair Jackie Norris stated that JG Consulting “materially breached” its contract by failing to adequately vet Roberts, asserting he should never have been considered for the position. The district’s lawsuit, filed Friday in Iowa District Court, seeks damages for employment costs, replacement expenses, and reputational harm, arguing the firm neglected to uncover critical information about Roberts’ immigration status and other background discrepancies.

Further complications for Roberts include federal charges for being an “illegal alien in possession of firearms” after weapons were discovered in his vehicle and residence following his September 26 detainment. Additionally, inconsistencies have surfaced regarding his claimed educational and professional history, with institutions like MIT and George Washington University disputing parts of his resume. Roberts’ attorney has filed a motion to stay his order of removal.

JG Consulting, a Texas-based firm, has maintained that its process included a comprehensive background review and that DMPS completed all necessary employment procedures prior to Roberts’ appointment. The district had initially contracted JG Consulting in January 2023.

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