Former Olympian Ian Roberts: Des Moines School Superintendent Arrested by ICE for Immigration Violations

Ian Roberts was apprehended following his attempt to flee from ICE agents during a traffic stop.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials confirmed that Ian Roberts, the first Black superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was taken into federal custody on Friday.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Mr. Roberts was arrested after attempting to drive away from ICE agents who had stopped him. The Department of Homeland Security stated that he lacked work authorization in the United States and had received a final deportation order in May 2024, as reported by Iowa Republic.

ICE records indicate Mr. Roberts was born in Guyana. His current detention at the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center in Sioux City was confirmed by jail personnel.

Mr. Roberts assumed the superintendent position in 2023. School officials expressed confusion regarding ICE's allegations and faced inquiries about his hiring process.

In a brief meeting lasting under three minutes on Saturday, the School Board unanimously voted 7-0 to place Mr. Roberts on paid administrative leave.

"I want to be clear, no one here was aware of any citizenship or immigration issues that Dr. Roberts may have been facing," stated Jackie Norris, the School Board chair, according to The NY Times. "The accusations ICE has made against Dr. Roberts are very serious, and we are taking them very seriously."

Born to Guyanese immigrant parents, Ian Roberts grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He entered the United States on a student visa in 1999 and earned his Bachelor's degree from Coppin State University in Maryland, where he made history as the college's first men's NCAA All-American and first Olympic athlete, according to CNN.

He subsequently earned master's degrees from St. John's University and Georgetown University, followed by a doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership from Trident University. His educational credentials also include certificates such as Harvard University's "Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership."

Ian Roberts was appointed as the 15th Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, effective July 1, 2023.

Prior to his Des Moines position, Mr. Roberts served three years as superintendent of Millcreek Township School District in Pennsylvania. His leadership experience includes serving as High School Network Superintendent for St. Louis Public Schools and holding positions in Baltimore, Washington DC, and the South Bronx. In 2013, George Washington University recognized him as Washington DC Principal of the Year.

With over 20 years of experience as a teacher, principal, district leader, and author, Mr. Roberts has had an extensive career in education. He also achieved athletic distinction, competing in track and field at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and World Championships in Maebashi, Japan, and Seville, Spain.

In 2022, Roberts pleaded guilty to a hunting-related weapon charge in Pennsylvania, which he disclosed to the Des Moines school board during his hiring process. He has been a licensed gun owner for many years.

Mr. Roberts' tenure became controversial in 2024 when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him during a "targeted enforcement operation." According to DHS, he lacked work authorization and had received a final removal order in May 2024. At the time of his arrest, DHS reported that Mr. Roberts possessed a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife, which violates federal law for individuals without legal status.