Iowa School Superintendent Placed on Leave Following Arrest by ICE

Tue Sep 30 2025 03:43:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Ian Roberts, the Superintendent of Des Moines schools, has been put on paid administrative leave after being apprehended by immigration agents for allegedly being in the U.S. illegally. The school board is currently investigating the situation.

The Des Moines school board unanimously decided to place Superintendent Ian Roberts on paid leave after he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly living and working in the U.S. without proper authorization. The board stated it would reassess Roberts' status as more information becomes available. Roberts, who reportedly entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, declared himself a U.S. citizen during his application for an administrator license. The Iowa Department of Education is reviewing hiring procedures following this incident.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Ian Roberts, the leader of Iowa's largest school district, has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest by federal immigration agents. The Des Moines school board made this decision after Roberts was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who claimed he was living and working in the U.S. illegally.

The board voted unanimously to put Roberts on paid leave, stating he was unable to fulfill his duties for the 30,000-student district. Board president Jackie Norris described the situation as 'jarring' and acknowledged the board lacked full details about the incident.

Roberts was stopped by ICE while driving a school-issued vehicle and reportedly fled into a wooded area before being apprehended. He is currently held in the Woodbury County Jail, located about 150 miles from Des Moines.

'No one here was aware of any citizenship or immigration issues that Dr. Roberts may have been facing,' Norris said, regarding the serious allegations made by ICE.

Roberts, who was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and previously participated in the 2000 Olympics in track and field, entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999. During his application for an administrative license, he stated he was a U.S. citizen, which was verified by a criminal history check conducted by state and federal authorities.

The Iowa Department of Education has begun reviewing the Des Moines district's hiring procedures to ensure compliance with regulations regarding employment eligibility in the U.S.

In summary, the situation surrounding Ian Roberts' immigration status is developing, raising serious concerns regarding education leadership integrity in the Des Moines School District.