Immigration agents have arrested the superintendent of the largest school district in the US state of Iowa, accusing him of overstaying his student visa.
Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Ian Andre Roberts, was arrested on Friday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a fugitive warrant. He also faces a firearms offence.
Officials said he is a citizen of Guyana whose work permit in the US expired in 2020. School district officials have noted they were not informed of the circumstances behind his arrest but described Roberts as an essential part of the school community.
This incident occurs during a broader US crackdown on immigration policies and actions, as President Donald Trump aims to deport undocumented migrants.
It remains unclear if Roberts has engaged legal representation. Current records indicate he is detained at an immigration center near Des Moines.
ICE revealed that he was apprehended while possessing a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a hunting knife. The agency reported there were attempts to elude police using a vehicle granted to him by the school district. His abandoned vehicle was later located with assistance from the Iowa State Patrol.
Roberts has a prior weapons charge dating back to February 2020 and entered the US under a student visa in 1999. A federal judge has issued an order for his deportation in 2024.
The investigation regarding the handgun has been referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as it is illegal for undocumented immigrants to possess firearms.
Betore leading the district with around 30,000 students, Roberts worked in various states and has degrees from institutions like Georgetown and Harvard. He also represented Guyana at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in track and field, along with competing in World Championships.
A biography on the school district’s website mentions that he was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and spent many of his formative years in Brooklyn, NY, also noting his interest in hunting.
School Board Chair Jackie Norris stated during a press conference that the board is attempting to clarify the facts concerning Roberts’ case, asserting, 'We do not have all the facts. There is much we do not know.' Norris confirmed that he has been a vital member of their community since joining two years ago.
Local ICE Director Sam Olson commented that this arrest serves as a wake-up call regarding public safety threats and expressed perplexity as to how an individual without work authorization and a history of removal was employed by the school district. "
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