US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Ian Roberts, the superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools system in Iowa, on Friday, September 26. He was arrested on a prior deportation order issued by authorities.
Roberts came to the United States from Guyana, a South American country, on a student visa in 1999 and was ordered deported in 2024. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, the superintendent has a 2020 weapons case against him, but DHS did not provide details.
The Trump administration has launched a sweeping immigration crackdown aimed at increasing arrests of immigration violators, expanding border patrols, and gradually revoking the work permits of millions of people with legal status.
Schools have been a hotbed of law enforcement debate since the Republican president’s administration in January issued a directive on behalf of DHS, under Acting Secretary Benjamine Huffman, that rescinded his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden’s 2021 “protected areas” directive, which had said ICE operations near educational institutions would be limited. But Reuters reported that while ICE has not typically targeted schools, it has arrested parents nearby.
Des Moines, the capital of Iowa, has a population of 214,000. The city’s immigrant population has grown in recent years but remains slightly below the national rate, according to US Census data. Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines School Board, confirmed Roberts’ arrest by ICE in a statement, according to Reuters.
“Our priority is to provide a safe, secure, and outstanding education for all students and to support our students, families, and employees,” Norris said.
Also Read: US Judge Orders Deportation of Mahmoud Khalil to Syria or Algeria
According to DHS, Roberts was carrying a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash when he was arrested. The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits illegal immigrants from carrying firearms.
ICE said Roberts sped away from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and left his car near a wooded area. The Iowa State Patrol later helped locate Roberts, according to DHS.
This article includes reporting from Reuters.