Des Moines Superintendent Detained by ICE, Resigns Amid Immigration Concerns
Ian Roberts, the recently hired superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, has been detained by ICE. Roberts, who joined the district in July 2023, is being held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, Iowa. ICE confirmed he is in the U.S. illegally, having entered on a student visa in 1999 and received a 'final order of removal' in May 2024.
Roberts' immigration issues were not known to the Des Moines School Board at the time of his hiring. Following his detention, the board placed him on unpaid administrative leave and demanded proof of his work authorization by noon on Tuesday. Failure to comply would result in termination. Roberts, who has held leadership positions in U.S. school districts for 20 years, is set to resign from his post.
The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has revoked Roberts' administrator license. Roberts was in possession of a loaded handgun and $3,000 in cash when taken into custody. An investigation into his hiring is underway at the state level, led by Iowa Rep. Zach Nunn.
Ian Roberts' detention by ICE has raised questions about his immigration status and work authorization. The Des Moines School Board has taken administrative action, and a state-level investigation is ongoing. Roberts' resignation is imminent, leaving the future of Des Moines Public Schools' leadership uncertain.
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