Iowa School District Leader Ian Roberts Placed on Administrative Leave After Arrest

Mon Sep 29 2025 01:47:11 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Iowa's largest school district, was arrested by ICE for illegal immigration status, leading to his immediate administrative leave.

Ian Roberts, superintendent of the Des Moines school district, was placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest by federal immigration agents for allegedly being in the U.S. illegally. The school board noted they were unaware of any immigration issues prior to his arrest. Roberts, who entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, has hired legal representation and previously claimed U.S. citizenship during his employment application processes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (RTW News) — Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest by federal immigration agents for allegedly living and working in the United States illegally. The Des Moines school board made this decision unanimously during a brief meeting, stating that Roberts was not currently available for his duties to the 30,000-student district.

School board president Jackie Norris described the day of the arrest as 'jarring' and acknowledged that members are still gathering more information regarding the situation. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Roberts was found to be in the country without legal authorization and was subject to a final removal order issued earlier this year.

ICE agents detained Roberts after stopping him while he was driving a school-issued vehicle, leading to a brief pursuit into a wooded area before he was apprehended. He is currently being held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City.

Norris emphasized that no one in the district was aware of any potential immigration issues involving Roberts prior to the arrest, and they are taking the allegations against him very seriously. Following the arrest, Roberts has secured the services of a Des Moines law firm.

Further, Iowa's Department of Education stated that Roberts claimed to be a U.S. citizen when applying for his administrator license, and the department is now reviewing the district's hiring processes to ensure regulatory compliance regarding employment eligibility.

Roberts, who had previously represented Guyana in the Olympics and came to the U.S. on a student visa, has expressed pride in his accomplishments, including his role in education. A former official from Guyana's police department reminisced about his promising career in law enforcement before he emigrated.