Who is Ian Roberts? What to know about the Des Moines superintendent arrested by ICE
RACIST MUCH
ICE says he's a 'criminal illegal alien' with a 'prior weapons charge'. How Roberts was hired "is beyond comprehension," an ICE official said in a statement.
Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register
Fri, September 26, 2025
Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, Sept. 26.
Associate Superintendent Matt Smith will serve as interim superintendent until further notice, according to a message from Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris. The Des Moines Independent Community School District has no confirmed information as to why Roberts was detained or what the "next potential steps are," according to the email from the district.
Why was Ian Roberts detained by ICE?
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to the Register that Roberts was detained and said a "final order of removal" was issued for Roberts' deportation in May 2024. DHS Spokesperson told the Register that Roberts abandoned his car and fled from police on Friday. He was found in possession of a loaded gun, a large amount of cash, and a hunting knife.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety confirmed it aided ICE in locating Roberts, who fled from a traffic stop. Roberts is now in the custody of immigration authorities and being held at the Pottawattamie County Jail in western Iowa.
Where is Ian Roberts from?
Roberts, who is 54, was born in Guyana in 1970, according to ICE, and he described the country in South America as "his birthplace" in an interview with Coppin State University published ahead of the 2020 Olympics.
He "spent his formative years" in Brooklyn, New York, according to his biography on the Des Moines district's website.
Roberts graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Coppin State University in Baltimore in 1998, according to the school. He received his doctorate in education with a focus on urban educational leadership. Roberts also has a master's degree in education from St. John's University in Queens, New York.
Roberts said he was married with four dogs, when he was hired as superintendent in 2023.
He is the first person of color to serve as Des Moines Public Schools' superintendent, the largest and most diverse school district in Iowa.
How long has Ian Roberts been superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools?
Roberts became the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in July 2023. He succeeded longtime Superintendent Tom Ahart, who resigned at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
Before coming to Des Moines, Roberts served as superintendent of Millcreek Township School District, located in a suburban area outside of Erie, Pennsylvania. He also worked in the St. Louis Public Schools as the high school network superintendent.
When was Ian Roberts an Olympic athlete?
Before a career in education, Roberts competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in track and field for Guyana as a mid-distance runner. He ran in the fourth heat of the 800-meter race with a time of 1.52.32. He placed seventh in his heat, according to Olympedia.
Roberts made national headlines when he raced against Des Moines elementary students in 2024, as part of a school raffle, in his classic suit, bowtie and Nike Air Force One tennis shoes.
Where did Ian Roberts work before Des Moines?
Dr. Ian Roberts served as the Chief Schools Officer of Aspire Public Schools, a system of public charter schools, according to the Millcreek Township School District news release issued when he was announced as superintendent there. His district for Aspire included schools in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and Memphis.
He previously served as a school principal and principal-supervisor in Baltimore City, Washington, D.C., and the South Bronx, New York, the release said.
What does ICE do? WHAT THE GESTAPO DID
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is a federal agency that enforces U.S. immigration laws. ICE officers are intended to target "public safety threats," including convicted criminals who are not U.S. citizens, but have entered the country.
With an $8 billion annual budget, the agency focuses on three operational directorates, according to ICE's website. They include Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.
Where is Guyana?
Guyana is a country in the northeastern corner of South America. It is north of Brazil and east of Venezuela, on the Atlantic Ocean. There are more than 825,000 people in Guyana, with Georgetown serving as the capital.
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register
Fri, September 26, 2025
Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, Sept. 26.
Associate Superintendent Matt Smith will serve as interim superintendent until further notice, according to a message from Des Moines School Board Chair Jackie Norris. The Des Moines Independent Community School District has no confirmed information as to why Roberts was detained or what the "next potential steps are," according to the email from the district.
Why was Ian Roberts detained by ICE?
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to the Register that Roberts was detained and said a "final order of removal" was issued for Roberts' deportation in May 2024. DHS Spokesperson told the Register that Roberts abandoned his car and fled from police on Friday. He was found in possession of a loaded gun, a large amount of cash, and a hunting knife.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety confirmed it aided ICE in locating Roberts, who fled from a traffic stop. Roberts is now in the custody of immigration authorities and being held at the Pottawattamie County Jail in western Iowa.
Where is Ian Roberts from?
Roberts, who is 54, was born in Guyana in 1970, according to ICE, and he described the country in South America as "his birthplace" in an interview with Coppin State University published ahead of the 2020 Olympics.
He "spent his formative years" in Brooklyn, New York, according to his biography on the Des Moines district's website.
Roberts graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Coppin State University in Baltimore in 1998, according to the school. He received his doctorate in education with a focus on urban educational leadership. Roberts also has a master's degree in education from St. John's University in Queens, New York.
Roberts said he was married with four dogs, when he was hired as superintendent in 2023.
He is the first person of color to serve as Des Moines Public Schools' superintendent, the largest and most diverse school district in Iowa.
How long has Ian Roberts been superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools?
Roberts became the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in July 2023. He succeeded longtime Superintendent Tom Ahart, who resigned at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
Before coming to Des Moines, Roberts served as superintendent of Millcreek Township School District, located in a suburban area outside of Erie, Pennsylvania. He also worked in the St. Louis Public Schools as the high school network superintendent.
When was Ian Roberts an Olympic athlete?
Before a career in education, Roberts competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in track and field for Guyana as a mid-distance runner. He ran in the fourth heat of the 800-meter race with a time of 1.52.32. He placed seventh in his heat, according to Olympedia.
Roberts made national headlines when he raced against Des Moines elementary students in 2024, as part of a school raffle, in his classic suit, bowtie and Nike Air Force One tennis shoes.
Where did Ian Roberts work before Des Moines?
Dr. Ian Roberts served as the Chief Schools Officer of Aspire Public Schools, a system of public charter schools, according to the Millcreek Township School District news release issued when he was announced as superintendent there. His district for Aspire included schools in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and Memphis.
He previously served as a school principal and principal-supervisor in Baltimore City, Washington, D.C., and the South Bronx, New York, the release said.
What does ICE do? WHAT THE GESTAPO DID
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is a federal agency that enforces U.S. immigration laws. ICE officers are intended to target "public safety threats," including convicted criminals who are not U.S. citizens, but have entered the country.
With an $8 billion annual budget, the agency focuses on three operational directorates, according to ICE's website. They include Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.
Where is Guyana?
Guyana is a country in the northeastern corner of South America. It is north of Brazil and east of Venezuela, on the Atlantic Ocean. There are more than 825,000 people in Guyana, with Georgetown serving as the capital.
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
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