ICE arrests criminal alien serving as Des Moines Public Schools superintendent; prior weapons charges and in possession of loaded handgun at time of arrest.
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Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts was arrested by ICE on September 26, 2025, amid concerns regarding his immigration status and possession of weapons.
On the morning of September 26, 2025,
Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was detained by
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The school district announced the arrest in an email, stating that
Associate Superintendent Matt Smith would serve as interim superintendent until further notice.
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. He was identified as an illegal alien from
Guyana with a
final order of removal and no work authorization. Roberts had entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa and had been working as the superintendent since July 2023.
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