DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials put the leader of Iowa’s largest school district on administrative leave Saturday, a day after federal immigration agents arrested him because they said he was in the country illegally.
The Des Moines school board voted unanimously to place Superintendent Ian Roberts on paid leave during a short special meeting. The board stated that Roberts was unavailable to fulfill his duties in the 30,000-student district and indicated they would reassess his situation once more information is available.
After the meeting, school board president Jackie Norris read a statement, expressing sympathy and concern regarding the “jarring day” caused by Roberts’ arrest, but noted that the board lacks complete information on the situation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Roberts was detained because he had allegedly overstayed his visa, lacked work authorization, and was subject to a final removal order issued in 2024. He was reportedly apprehended while driving a district-owned vehicle.
Roberts was taken into custody near Sioux City, Iowa, and is being held in the Woodbury County Jail.
“I want to be clear, no one here was aware of any citizenship or immigration issues that Dr. Roberts may have been facing,” said Norris. She emphasized the seriousness of the accusations made by ICE.
Roberts has hired a legal firm in Des Moines for representation, but a message left with them has not yet received a response.
Norris reiterated that a background check had been completed prior to Roberts' hiring, revealing no discrepancies, and affirmed that Roberts had signed documentation confirming his U.S. citizenship. The Iowa Department of Education has also stated that Roberts claimed to be a U.S. citizen when applying for an administrator license, and is reviewing the hiring procedures of the Des Moines district.
Before his career in education, Roberts was a notable athlete, having competed in the 2000 Olympics for Guyana. He entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999 and previously had ties to law enforcement in Guyana.
