In a startling development that has gripped the Des Moines community, Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, the superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on the morning of Friday, September 26, 2025. The arrest of the prominent educator, Ian Roberts, who is also a former Olympic athlete, has sparked protests, raised urgent questions about immigration enforcement, and left a school district of over 30,000 students searching for answers.
The situation unfolded as a “targeted enforcement operation” led by ICE officers to apprehend Dr. Roberts. According to official statements, when officers approached him in his vehicle, he sped away. Authorities later located his abandoned car and, with the assistance of the Iowa State Patrol and a K-9 unit, found Dr. Roberts hiding in a brush-covered area approximately 200 yards from where the vehicle was left. He was taken into custody without further incident.
At the time of his arrest, ICE reported that Dr. Ian Roberts was in possession of a loaded Glock 19 handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash. The agency emphasized that it is a federal crime for individuals without legal status in the U.S. to possess a firearm and ammunition.
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A Leader’s Fall and a Community’s Shock
The news sent immediate shockwaves through the Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) community and the city at large. The school board moved swiftly to appoint Associate Superintendent Matt Smith as interim leader, noting he had previously served in that role during the 2022-2023 school year. In a press conference held that same afternoon, school board president Jackie Norris addressed the public but did not take questions, citing the “legal complexities of this situation.”
Ms. Norris expressed the community’s confusion and distress, stating, “There is new information that has been made public that we did not know, and we have not been able to verify.” She described Dr. Ian Roberts as “an integral part of our school community” who had “advocated for students and staff.” The district urged the community to practice “radical empathy,” a concept championed by Dr. Roberts himself, which involves respecting others’ humanity even in disagreement. The arrest has caused particular anxiety among immigrant families, with one advocate noting, “There are many questions, many doubts” about their safety in everyday activities like taking children to school.
With no warning, ICE has detained Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts. No reason has yet been provided for the detainment.
Roberts is a native of Guyana and a former Olympic Athlete, and by all accounts is a well-regarded member of the Des Moines community.… pic.twitter.com/BlqWb8fXaY
— Senator Chris Larson (@SenChrisLarson) September 26, 2025
ICE presented a starkly different portrait of the superintendent, labeling him a “criminal alien” and a “public safety threat.” The agency revealed that Dr. Roberts, a native of Guyana, initially entered the United States on a student visa in 1999. His legal authorization to work in the country had expired, and an immigration judge had issued a final order for his removal in May 2024. ICE officials also pointed to existing weapon possession charges against Dr. Roberts from February 2020, which are still pending. Sam Olson, a director with ICE, sharply criticized how someone “without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge” could be hired to lead a major school district, calling it “beyond comprehension.”
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From Olympic Dreams to Educational Leadership
The arrest cuts short a remarkable and inspiring career. Dr. Ian Roberts was named the 15th superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in July 2023 after a nationwide search. He was the first person of color to hold the position. Before moving to Iowa, he had built a respected 20-year career in education, serving as a superintendent in Pennsylvania, an administrator in St. Louis, and holding various leadership roles in school systems from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.. He began as a special education teacher and was once named Washington, D.C. Principal of the Year.
His profile extended far beyond the classroom. Long before his career in education, Dr. Roberts was a world-class athlete. He competed as a middle-distance runner for Guyana in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, specializing in the 800 meters. He also participated in the World Championships in Japan and Spain. Dr. Roberts often spoke proudly of his immigrant background, sharing that he was “born to immigrant parents from Guyana” and spent his formative years in Brooklyn, New York. He earned multiple advanced degrees, including a doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership.
NEW: ICE has arrested Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, an illegal alien from Guyana. Roberts was found in possession of a loaded handg*n, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting kn*fe, according to Fox News @BillMelugin_ .
ICE Press Release:… pic.twitter.com/bOrVHi3oBa
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) September 26, 2025
As Dr. Ian Roberts remains in custody at the Pottawattamie County Jail, the community he led is left to grapple with the complex juxtaposition of his celebrated contributions and the serious allegations against him. The Directors Council, a local nonprofit, has offered him its “full support,” calling him a “dedicated advocate for equity.” Meanwhile, the investigation into how he acquired the handgun has been turned over to the ATF, ensuring that this story is far from over. For the students, families, and staff of Des Moines, the priority remains moving forward, as the district has pledged to “provide a safe, secure, and outstanding education for all students” while this legal drama unfolds.
