The superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Ian Andre Roberts, has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly being in the country unlawfully and lacking work authorization. Roberts, a native of Guyana, was taken into custody during a targeted enforcement operation on Friday. According to ICE, he was subject to a final removal order issued in May 2024.

Roberts has been serving as superintendent of the district since 2023, earning a six-figure salary. He was stopped by federal officers while driving a district-issued vehicle and allegedly attempted to flee the scene. He was later apprehended with the help of the Iowa State Patrol and booked into Woodbury County Jail. At the time of his arrest, Roberts was carrying a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife.

ICE officials have expressed concern over how Roberts was hired by the district despite his immigration status and prior criminal record. Court records show that Roberts pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle in Pennsylvania in January 2022. The incident has raised questions about the district’s hiring practices and the role of the school board in appointing Roberts to the position.

The chair of the school board, Jackie Norris, is a former chief of staff to Michelle Obama. Norris has stated that the district was not aware of any citizenship or immigration issues that Roberts may have been facing. The district has placed Roberts on paid administrative leave pending further investigation.

The arrest has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the vetting process for high-ranking officials in the district. The incident is likely to have significant implications for the district and its leadership. The Des Moines Public Schools board will likely face scrutiny over its hiring practices and the decision to appoint Roberts as superintendent.