The leader of Iowa’s largest school district has been sidelined after federal immigration officials detained him last week. Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts is now on unpaid leave, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement accused him of being in the country illegally. His status is drawing attention to how he came to oversee Des Moines Public Schools.
On Sunday, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked Roberts’ license, ending his ability to serve as a superintendent in the state of Iowa.
Arrest details and law enforcement response
According to ICE, Roberts was taken into custody on Sept. 26, during what officials described as a “targeted enforcement operation.” It’s unclear why immigration federal agents focused on Roberts during their enforcement efforts.
Agents said they approached him while he was in his vehicle, but he drove off. His car was later found abandoned near a wooded area, and he was arrested with assistance from the Iowa State Patrol.
Legal and licensing context
After the arrest, the Des Moines School Board initially placed Roberts on paid leave, but reversed the decision during a special meeting on Monday. School Board Chair Jackie Norris said the board has no additional information about the arrest and is uncertain about what the future holds for Roberts.
“We do not have all the facts. There is much we do not know. However, what we do know is that Dr. Roberts has been an integral part of our school community since he joined over two years ago,” she said. “During his time with our district, he has shown up in ways big and small and has advocated for students and staff and begun introducing concepts that will help us reimagine education for future generations of Des Moines students.”
During the meeting, board members asked Iowa officials to provide the documentation or evidence used to justify revoking Roberts’ license. Since the license was revoked, state law automatically triggers his placement on unpaid leave.
Des Moines district officials said they were notified on Monday afternoon by Homeland Security that Roberts is considered an unauthorized worker. Later, the district received a copy of the final removal order issued by an immigration judge.
The district said it has asked Roberts’ attorney to provide clarification about his citizenship status by Tuesday at noon.
“We need to understand what happened and why,” officials said.
The district added that unless new information is provided showing Roberts is eligible to work, the board will begin the legal process to end his contract under Iowa law.
ICE stated that Roberts, a Guyanese native, initially entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999 but was ordered to leave by an immigration judge in May 2024. The agency said that Roberts no longer had permission to work in the country. When he was arrested, a statement says that a loaded gun was found in his vehicle, as well as around $3,000 cash and a hunting knife. Officials also noted he faced a prior weapons charge in 2020.
Federal law bars anyone without legal status in the U.S. from owning or carrying a gun. The rule, written into the federal firearms code, makes it a felony for someone in the country illegally to have a firearm or ammunition. Convictions can bring fines or up to 10 years in prison. The ATF often steps in to trace how the weapon was obtained and whether other crimes may have been committed.
Iowa Department of Education digs into hiring process
The Iowa Department of Education told Straight Arrow News that Roberts said he was a U.S. citizen when he applied for his administrator’s license, signing under penalty of perjury. If that claim is false, it could be considered a legal violation, since applicants are required to provide accurate information about their citizenship or legal status.
The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners said it followed its normal procedures, including criminal background checks with both the state and the FBI, before issuing Roberts’ license. Officials noted that it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that someone is legally authorized to work in the U.S., and they are reviewing the district’s hiring procedures to determine how work eligibility is verified.
According to the district, Roberts listed himself as a U.S. citizen on his I-9 form and provided a driver’s license and Social Security card as verification. Officials said this is standard practice for all employers, who generally rely on employees to fill out the forms truthfully and provide valid documentation.
The district added that its legal counsel from Dentons Davis Brown reviewed the I-9 and found nothing in the information provided that would raise concerns about Roberts’ eligibility to work.
Immigration challenges ahead
Roberts now faces an uphill battle to remain in the U.S. He has removal orders from immigration court, and a federal judge already denied a request to reopen his case in April 2025. Generally, after a removal order is finalized and the 90-day appeal period passes, options to overturn it are limited. Reopening a case usually requires new evidence or a significant change in circumstances, such as proving that someone missed a hearing because they didn’t get proper notice.
Some temporary relief is possible, though rare. ICE can grant a “stay of removal” for humanitarian reasons, and officials sometimes allow deferred action, which lets someone remain in the country temporarily. However, these are exceptions, not guarantees, and don’t provide permanent legal status.
Roberts’ situation is further complicated by his previous weapons charge and the loaded handgun authorities say was in his vehicle during his arrest. Any criminal conviction, even a minor one, can limit options for appealing deportation.
While it’s technically possible to challenge a removal order or request temporary relief, cases like Roberts’ are difficult, and his legal path forward is uncertain.
Professional background
Roberts became the 15th superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in 2023 following a nationwide search. He oversaw 64 schools serving more than 31,000 students. His career includes leading the Millcreek Township district in Pennsylvania and holding administrative roles in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and St. Louis.
In 2013, he was named George Washington University’s Principal of the Year, and he also competed in the 2000 Olympics, representing Guyana as a track and field athlete. Roberts holds multiple advanced degrees in education and leadership, including a doctorate in urban educational leadership.
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