(Des Moines) The superintendent of the largest public school district in Iowa has been placed on leave after ICE detained him.
On Saturday, the school board voted to place Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave.
Authorities say Roberts is an illegal immigrant with no work authorization and a criminal record. They say when agents approached Roberts, he fled, and was later found in possession of a loaded handgun, a hunting knife, and three thousand dollars cash.
Roberts was born in Guyana and came to the U.S. on a student visa in 1999. He became head of the Des Moines public schools in 2023.
Des Moines Public School officials say they are investigating how an administrator was hired following his arrest on ice charges. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities claimed he had an unspecified final order of removal. The South American native also reportedly had no work authorization in the U.S., with an illegal migrant status. Officials and Iowa lawmakers are now asking how Roberts passed multiple background checks before he was hired as DMPS Superintendent in 2023. Protests against his detainment have since formed locally and throughout other Iowa cities, calling for Roberts’ release from custody.
According to the Des Moines Public Schools’ Facebook page, Matt Smith, the Associate Superintendent, has assumed the role of Interim Superintendent, effective immediately. Smith previously served as Interim Superintendent during the 2022-23 school year.
The post said, “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.”
