(Des Moines, IA ) — The superintendent of the largest public school district in Iowa is being detained by ICE at Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs. The school board confirms Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts is being held, but adds it does not have confirmed information on why Roberts was detained. At approximately 8:45 a.m. Friday morning, the Iowa Department of Public Safety received a mutual aid request to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in locating Roberts who fled from a traffic stop initiated by their agents. WOI-TV says Dr. Roberts’ parents are immigrants from Guyana, and he grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He became head of Des Moines public schools in 2023.
According to the Des Moines Public Schools Facebook page, Matt Smith, the Associate Superintendent will immediately step into the role of Interim Superintendent until further notice. Smith previously served as Interim Superintendent during the 2022-23 school year. The post further says, “Our priority is to provide a safe, secure and outstanding education for all students and to support our students, families, and employees. The appointment of Mr. Smith as Interim Superintendent ensures that our District continues to operate at the highest level.”
