The leader of Iowa’s largest school district is now in federal custody after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Dr. Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested on Friday, September 26, following what ICE described as an enforcement action tied to a final deportation order issued in 2024.
According to ICE officials, Roberts allegedly fled from agents in his car before abandoning the vehicle. He was later tracked down with help from the Iowa State Patrol. Agents say they found Roberts with a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife at the time of his arrest.
Federal authorities also claim Roberts had a prior weapons charge from 2020, though details around that case remain limited.
Des Moines Public Schools confirmed the arrest, saying they are still gathering information about what happens next. The district serves more than 30,000 students, making this one of the most high-profile ICE detentions tied to a school leader in recent years.
Roberts, a former Olympic athlete originally from Guyana, was hired in 2023 to oversee the district. His future with the school system is now uncertain as the immigration case unfolds.
