Ex-Des Moines Superintendent Detained by ICE Over Firearm Charges

Former Des Moines Superintendent Detained by ICE and Charged with Possessing Firearms

Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Iowa's largest school district, has been charged in federal court with possessing firearms while in the United States without legal authorization. This comes after he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on September 26, following a traffic stop where he allegedly fled from officers.

Roberts, 54, had resigned as the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools earlier in the week. Federal authorities accused him of lacking legal authorization to reside or work in the United States. During his arrest, agents discovered a loaded handgun wrapped in a towel inside the vehicle he was driving, according to a criminal complaint. Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at Roberts' home, where they found three other firearms and multiple firearm magazines.

The Department of Homeland Security referred Roberts to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for an investigation into how he obtained the gun found in his vehicle. Roberts was initially held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, but on October 2, he was taken into custody by the Department of Justice on a federal warrant and removed from the jail. He made his initial court appearance that same day, and will remain in federal custody pending further proceedings.

Background and Legal Issues

Roberts, who was hired by Des Moines Public Schools in 2023, had previously received an order for deportation in 2024. Originally from Guyana in South America, he immigrated to the United States to study and play college sports. In 1999, the federal government granted Roberts a student visa. However, between 2001 and 2018, he unsuccessfully applied to become a permanent U.S. resident.

Federal authorities alleged that Roberts was not eligible to work in the United States when he assumed the role of superintendent. According to the complaint, his work authorization expired in 2020, more than two years before he became the Des Moines Schools superintendent. In May 2024, Roberts failed to appear in a Dallas immigration court for a hearing on his potential deportation. A judge then ordered him to return to Guyana.

Roberts’ attorneys have said they are seeking to pause his deportation and reopen his case. Attorney Alfredo Parrish told the Des Moines Register that his legal team is working with state and federal entities to protect Roberts’ interests. “We can’t say we didn’t know a possibility this would happen, but obviously we want to see if we can reach a resolution,” he said.

Legal Disputes and School District Response

During a news conference on September 30, Parrish defended his client, stating that Roberts believed he was allowed to live and work in the United States. He shared a letter from Jackeline Gonzalez, a Texas immigration attorney who previously represented Roberts. The letter, dated March 27 of this year, stated that her office had closed Roberts’ immigration case and that it had reached a successful resolution.

However, an immigration judge denied Roberts’ motion to reopen the case in April. According to the complaint, Gonzalez had attempted to withdraw from the case and provided a November 2024 letter stating that Roberts owed her firm about $11,800 in unpaid legal bills. She filed a motion to withdraw as Roberts’ attorney in January, but a judge did not rule on her request before denying his motion to reopen his case.

School District Considers Legal Action

Since Roberts’ arrest, Des Moines Public Schools officials have said they believed he was a U.S. citizen. They stated that Roberts completed an I-9 form, the document employers use to confirm employees' authorization to work in the United States. Phil Roeder, a spokesperson for the district, said in an email that Roberts provided a copy of his driver’s license and a Social Security card before the school board hired him in May 2023.

The school board announced on October 2 that it will discuss possible litigation related to the arrest and revelations about Roberts’ background during a special session on October 3. School board chair Jackie Norris said the district is facing a different reality than it did just days ago. “As a learning institution, we will use this opportunity to both review the most recent superintendent hiring process as well as holding those accountable who contributed to this current situation.”

Norris emphasized that Roberts appears to have misled people about his citizenship status and academic credentials. “Between legal action and a thorough internal review, we pledge to find the truth so this can never happen again.”