What we know about Ian Roberts, the Des Moines Superintendent arrested by ICE

The former Des Moines Public School superintendent’s arrest by ICE has garnered international attention and prompted a closer look at his background.

The Des Moines School Board accepted the resignation of Ian Roberts as superintendent of schools on Tuesday during a special meeting. This was the board’s fourth special meeting since Roberts’ arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday.

Des Moines School Board President Jackie Norris, also a Democratic candidate in Iowa’s 2026 US Senate race, read a statement before the unanimous vote saying the district and other stakeholders were misled about his citizenship status and ability to work in the US.

“For all of us, this is not what we anticipated when we welcomed Dr. Ian Roberts into Central Iowa and the Des Moines School District a little more than two years ago,” Norris said. “It’s a sad and troubling end for an individual who gave many people—especially our students— hope.” 

Roberts’ arrest and subsequent resignation were sparked by allegations that he was not authorized to work in the United States legally.

Who is Ian Roberts?

Ian Roberts is now the former superintendent of schools for the Des Moines Public School District, Iowa’s largest school district. When he was hired in March 2023, Roberts became the district’s 15th superintendent and the first Black person to hold that title.

Roberts was known around the community for wearing colorful, tailored suits often paired with a flower on his lapel and matching sneakers. The former Olympic runner was also known for his practice of “radical empathy” as a teaching method. 

According to a press release that announced his hire in Des Moines, Roberts “is married and outside of school he enjoys hunting, reading and spending time with his family and friends.”

Before coming to Iowa, Roberts served as the superintendent of the Millcreek Township School District based in Erie, Pennsylvania. He also had educational experience working in public and charter school systems in California, Baltimore, Maryland; St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C., according to his LinkedIn page.

Roberts’ educational background is a bit murkier. 

An investigation by the Des Moines Register confirmed he earned an undergraduate degree from Coppin State University in Baltimore in 1998. Roberts also competed on the school’s track team and was inducted into the CSU Athletics Hall of Fame earlier this year.

The Register also confirmed Roberts holds a master’s degree from St. John’s University in New York, but noted that he did not hold a doctoral degree as he had long claimed. A spokesperson for Morgan State University in Baltimore confirmed to the Register that Roberts attended the school in pursuit of a doctorate, but did not complete the program.

A follow-up investigation by The Register also showed that Roberts had no connection to the MIT Sloan School of Management, an institution he previously claimed to have earned a master’s of business administration from. The latter investigation also confirmed Roberts had never won a “Principal of the Year” award from George Washington University, as he’d claimed.

However, Roberts’ attorney told reporters on Tuesday that his client holds a doctorate’s degree from Trident University International, an online college based in Arizona.

Why was Ian Roberts arrested?

Roberts was born in Guyana—a South American country that borders Brazil, Suriname, Venezuela, and the Atlantic Ocean—and ICE said he entered the United States on a student visa in 1999; however, there is evidence that he has been in the country since the mid-1990s, including his presence at Coppin State University. He was given a final order for removal in May 2024, according to a release from ICE.

ICE agents staged a targeted enforcement operation to apprehend Roberts on Friday, Sept. 26, and according to the agency, Roberts fled the scene in his vehicle. ICE claims that after fleeing the scene, agents found his vehicle abandoned near a wooded area. With assistance from the Iowa State Patrol, Roberts was taken into custody.

While searching his district-provided vehicle, ICE reported it found $3,000 cash, a loaded handgun, and a hunting knife. It is legal for citizens to carry handguns in Iowa under a 2021 law; however, if Roberts is not a legal US Citizen, it would not apply to him. 

ICE officials said the handgun was turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to investigate how Roberts acquired the firearm.

The ICE report also noted Roberts had a previous gun charge in 2020.

What happened after his arrest?

Shortly after his apprehension, Roberts was transferred to the Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs; however, he was later transferred to the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center in Sioux City (about three hours from Des Moines), where he remains as of Wednesday.

Roberts’ Des Moines home was also raided by federal agents on Friday. Neighbors captured the raid on home security cameras and shared the photos on social media. 

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners stripped Roberts of his license on Sunday, which revoked his ability to serve as superintendent. The Des Moines School Board placed Roberts on leave Monday and accepted his resignation the following day. 

What about his 2024 deportation order?

Roberts’ attorney, Alfredo Parrish, held a press conference on Tuesday, and said Roberts’ immigration attorney told Roberts his case had been resolved successfully, and Roberts was under the impression it had been. 

What about his prior gun charge?

Roberts was cited for a hunting violation by a Pennsylvania park ranger in 2020 for having a loaded hunting rifle in his vehicle after a hunting excursion. He paid $194.42 for the violation, which included a $100 fine, court costs, postage and other costs.

Roberst also addressed the situation in an open letter to the Mill Creek School District community. 

Was Roberts eligible to work in America?

Biographical details of Roberts’ background have differed over the years. In some instances, Roberts told interviewers he had been in the United States since the 1980s, and Brooklyn was where he spent his formative years.

While ICE says Roberts illegally entered the country in 1999, there is evidence that he has been in the United States since at least 1994, when he left Guyana to attend St. Francis College in Brooklyn, according to a 1999 Newsweek article. 

DMPS officials said Roberts signed an I-9 form indicating he was eligible to work in the United States, and provided a driver’s license and a Social Security card.

Roberts’ attorney was asked Tuesday by a reporter if Roberts was a citizen and how he acquired a Social Security number. 

“This is one of those things I’m able to respond to, but, quite frankly, I don’t want to respond at this point,” Parrish said. “But, as you may or may not know, certain people coming into this country are entitled to get Social Security numbers. We thoroughly checked that out; that’s not our concern.”

What are his supporters saying?

Students across Des Moines held walkouts or other protests to showcase support for Roberts on Tuesday. There was a large rally on Friday in Des Moines outside of the Neal Smith Federal Building, and a smaller rally outside of the Woodbury County jail on Saturday.  

There have been numerous supportive posts for Roberts across social media from DMPS stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and students.

What has Roberts said since his arrest?

The Iowa-Nebraska NAACP issued a statement Saturday after meeting with Roberts. 

“Dr. Roberts shared that he is in good spirits and that his faith in God will sustain him,” the organization’s statement read. 

What are Iowa politicians saying?

Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican who represents northeast Iowa in Congress and is a US Senate candidate, called for Roberts’ immediate deportation.

“ICE arrested the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Ian Andre Roberts — an illegal alien from Guyana & active ICE fugitive with a deportation order since May 2024,” she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “When ICE caught him, agents found a loaded gun, a hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash. He should be deported immediately. He should have never been anywhere around Iowa kids in the first place!”

In a release, Gov. Kim Reynolds called the arrest shocking.

“But I want to be clear: we are a nation of laws that must be enforced,” she said. “Those who believe immigration laws are optional are dangerously wrong. When laws are ignored, or when people are led to believe there will be no consequences, our communities are at risk. Iowans won’t stand for that. We must enforce the law, every time, to protect our families and our future.”

Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican who represents Central Iowa and Des Moines in Congress, called for complete transparency from ICE and the US Department of Homeland Security on Saturday. However, by Tuesday, he called it unacceptable that Roberts was able to work while under a final deportation order and without legal authorization.

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