By Harshit | September 27, 2025 | Des Moines, Iowa | 7:00 AM EDT
The superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, Ian Andre Roberts, has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on charges of overstaying his visa and unlawfully possessing a firearm. Roberts, a native of Guyana, is currently being held at an immigration detention center near Des Moines.
Details of the arrest
ICE officials said Roberts, who entered the United States on a student visa in 1999, overstayed his permit, which expired in 2020. A federal judge issued a deportation order against him in 2024. According to ICE, Roberts was found in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife at the time of his arrest.
Authorities also stated that Roberts initially fled from police in a vehicle provided by the Des Moines school district before abandoning it. He was later located with the assistance of the Iowa State Patrol. ICE emphasized that it is illegal for undocumented immigrants to own or carry firearms.
The firearms case is being referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for further investigation.
Career and background
Roberts has led the Des Moines Public Schools, a district serving about 30,000 students, since 2023. Before moving to Iowa, he worked as an educator in multiple states and studied at institutions including Georgetown University and Harvard University.
Outside education, Roberts represented Guyana in track and field at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and competed in the World Championships in Japan and Spain. A district biography noted that he spent much of his youth in Brooklyn, New York, and enjoyed hunting.
Local and federal reactions
School Board Chair Jackie Norris said the district was still seeking information about the case. “We do not have all the facts. There is much we do not know,” she told reporters. “What we do know is Dr. Roberts has been an integral part of our school community since he joined two years ago.”
ICE officials, however, described Roberts as a “public safety threat.” Local ICE Director Sam Olson said, “How this illegal alien was hired without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension and should alarm the parents of that school district.”
Political context
The arrest comes during President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown, which has focused on deporting undocumented migrants across the United States. Trump has urged federal agencies to pursue aggressive enforcement, framing the issue as central to his second-term agenda.
Implications
Roberts’ arrest raises questions about how he was able to lead a major U.S. school district despite his expired visa and prior weapons charge from 2020. The case highlights tensions between immigration enforcement and local education systems, while also underscoring the broader national debate over undocumented immigrants in positions of public responsibility.
It is not yet clear whether Roberts has retained legal counsel. His immigration and firearms cases are expected to proceed in federal court, with both local and national attention focused on the outcome.
