Ice detains superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district | Iowa

The director of Iowa’s largest school region was detained on Friday by US immigration and customs conservation (ICE) agents and shocked among other educators.

According to the chairman of the region, Ian Roberts, Director of DES Moines public schools (DMPs), was caught on Friday morning. In a press release on Friday, Jackie Norris said in a press release on Friday, why Dr Roberts has been detained or approved by the next potential steps, ”he said. The region also chose a temporary inspector.

According to Ice Online detained database, Roberts seems to be held in Pottawattamie district prison about two hours west of des Moines. The database lists Roberts’ birth country as Guyana.

In a statement to Guardian, DHS said Roberts was arrested for “a final lifting order and no business authority”.

The Agency said, “During a targeted execution operation on September 26, 2025, after the officers identified themselves, Roberts approached his vehicle, but he walked away. The officers then discovered that his vehicle was abandoned near a forested area. The state patrol was helped to find the issue and the ice was detained. “Roberts has charges of possession of arms from February 5, 2020. Roberts entered the United States on a student visa in 1999 on a student visa and in May 2024, an immigrant judge was ordered to remove a final abolition.”

Norris said that a state board of directors gave Roberts a license to serve as an inspector in 2023 and could not confirm the region’s claims about ICE’s immigration status.

In a joint statement, the presidents of the unions representing the teachers and other school employees in Iowa, Roberts, said that he was “an enormous advocate for students, families, staff and community and was shocked in his arrest.

Joshua Brown, President of Iowa State Education Association, and a joint statement, said, “The leadership and compassion for all students, regardless of background, identity or family origin, is a light of light in one of the most various school regions of the state.” “It is a dark and disturbing time in our country. This event created a tremendous fear for DMPS students, families and staff.”

Matt Smith, an official of DES Moines Schools, who was assigned to serve as a temporary inspector on Friday, said that he felt “sad, angry and helpless, after learning that the members of the community were taken into custody.

In the media negotiations And biographies said he grew up by Guyanli immigrant parents in Roberts, New York, Brooklyn. A statement of 2023 from the region, which announced Roberts’s appointment, said that “he was born by immigrant parents from Guyana and spent most of his shaping years in Brooklyn”. In 2023, he became the first color to be called the inspector position in Iowa’s largest school area. It is an old Olympic athlete competing as a medium -range runner for Guyana in 2000 Sydney games.

Court records in Pennsylvania show that Roberts was guilty of a small violation for the containing a firearm in a vehicle in January 2022 and was fined. The case was caused by a reference in Eriie County and published the previous month by the Pennsylvania Game Commission Officer, and stopped Roberts as a day of deer hunting on the state territory.

Roberts said that he had long been a licensed hunter and weapon for a long time and left the hunting rifle in the seat of his vehicle to make the officer feel threatened during his interactions. The officer said he was shocked when he talked about doing this, but claimed that he was guilty to prevent any distraction. He questioned whether his dark skin played a role in the case.

“I may not look like a ‘human species’ that will enjoy the deer season in Pennsylvania, in fact, I have been hunting and hunting for more than 20 years, Robert Roberts wrote in a social media post.

Earlier this year, after removing the restrictions on the administration of Donald Trump’s administration schools, churches and other sensitive places, the leaders of Roberts and other regional school regions released directives for public schools and families.

In a letter to the parents, Roberts said that schools would comply with the warrants from the immigration officials and that agents looking for information about students will be directed to managers.

“EVEryde des Moines public schools do everything we can in our legal and moral authority to support students, which is always our most important priority,” he said.

The region said he expects updates about Roberts’ situation. Norris said, “We know that you have many questions and we will provide updates as you learn more accurate information. We thank you and appreciate your support,” he said.

• This article was modified on 26 September 2025. A previous version said Ian Roberts was born in Brooklyn based on past interviews. However, a statement of 2023 from the region said that he was born by migrant parents from Guyana and spent most of his shaping years in Brooklyn ”.