Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts’ License Revoked Amid ICE Detention
Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts’ License Revoked Amid ICE Detention
The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has officially revoked the license of Dr. Ian Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, just days after he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The decision, effective September 28th, 2025, cites Dr. Roberts’ lack of legal presence in the United States, rendering him unable to hold an Iowa-issued educational license. The Iowa Department of Education provided the formal notification letter to Dr. Roberts on Monday morning, September 29th, 2025.
Dr. Roberts was placed on paid administrative leave by the Des Moines School Board on Saturday, September 27th, 2025, with Assistant Superintendent Matt Smith stepping in as interim superintendent. His detention by ICE occurred on Friday, September 26th, 2025, following allegations from the Department of Homeland Security that he fled from officers and was found in possession of a loaded gun, a hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash.
Further details released by DHS indicate that Dr. Roberts had received a final order of removal from an immigration judge in May 2024 and lacked valid work authorization. He also faces a previous gun charge from 2020. Dr. Roberts is currently held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, Iowa, according to I.C.E.’s Online Detainee Locator System.
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