Former Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts Faces Federal Firearms Charges After ICE Arrest

Des Moines, Iowa – October 3, 2025 – Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 26, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa, and subsequently charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms. The 54-year-old Guyanese national, who led Iowa’s largest school district until his recent resignation, was found with a loaded Glock 9mm pistol, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash at the time of his arrest following a brief car chase.

Roberts, who holds a doctoral degree in education and previously served as a superintendent in Pennsylvania’s Millcreek Township School District, had been earning nearly $300,000 annually in his role with Des Moines Public Schools despite lacking legal work authorization. ICE officials revealed that Roberts had been living and working in the U.S. illegally, with a final order of removal issued against him in absentia by an immigration judge in Dallas, Texas, on May 22, 2024. His motion to reopen the case was denied on April 24, 2025.

Extensive Immigration History of Repeated Attempts and Denials

Roberts’ immigration record dates back to the 1990s and includes multiple visa entries, green card applications, and employment authorizations, many of which expired or were rejected. He first entered the U.S. on June 1, 1994, at John F. Kennedy International Airport on a B-2 nonimmigrant visa as a visitor for pleasure, departing on an unknown date but returning before a 1996 arrest for narcotics possession. Subsequent entries included an F-1 student visa through San Francisco International Airport on March 8, 1999, set to expire in 2004, followed by reentries in June 28, 1999, and August 30, 1999.

He filed his first green card application on May 21, 2001, which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rejected in January 2003. Additional applications were denied in May 2003, May 15, 2018, and July 16, 2018—his fourth attempt, rejected on January 24, 2020. Employment authorization documents were approved sporadically, including one on April 5, 2000 (expiring April 1, 2001), another on December 18, 2018 (expiring December 18, 2019), and a third on December 3, 2019 (expiring December 18, 2020). Roberts updated his address with USCIS on February 11, 2020, and received a notice to appear before an immigration judge on October 2, 2020.

Despite these efforts, Roberts overstayed his visas and failed to maintain legal status, leading to the 2024 removal order. Federal authorities noted he had no valid work authorization at the time of his arrest, raising questions about how he secured high-level positions in U.S. school districts.

Criminal Record Spanning Decades

ICE has publicized Roberts’ criminal history, which includes multiple arrests and convictions related to narcotics, weapons, and other offenses. In July 3, 1996, he faced charges in New York for criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell, criminal possession of narcotics, possession of a forgery instrument, and possession of a forged instrument. On November 13, 1998, he was charged with third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle in Queens, New York, dismissed on July 6, 1999.

More recent incidents include a November 1, 2012, conviction for reckless driving, unsafe operation, and speeding in Maryland. On February 3, 2020, he was charged in Pennsylvania with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (loaded firearm outside home or business), third-degree possession of an ammunition feeding device, and fourth-degree weapon charges; the second-degree charge was listed as inchoate. In January 20, 2022, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania convicted him of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.

The September 26, 2025, arrest adds to this pattern, with federal charges alleging possession of four firearms while unlawfully present in the U.S. On October 2, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa filed the complaint.

Resignation and School District Fallout

Roberts resigned from his position amid the scandal, following the revocation of his teaching license by the Iowa state education board. Des Moines Public Schools placed him on administrative leave initially and has since announced plans to sue the consulting firm JG Consulting that vetted him for the job in 2023, citing failures in due diligence including background checks. The district revoked his paid leave status after the arrest.

The hiring of Roberts in 2023 occurred under the Des Moines School Board, which included Jackie Norris, who served as Michelle Obama’s chief of staff in the White House in 2009 and later became board chair in January 2024. While Norris was not leading the board at the time of Roberts’ hiring, she has faced criticism from Iowa lawmakers, including Rep. Ashley Hinson, who demanded accountability for the board’s decision to select him as superintendent. Norris has stated that the board was deceived by Roberts, who falsely claimed U.S. citizenship and misrepresented his educational credentials, such as an unverified doctorate from Morgan State University. The board accepted Roberts’ resignation in a 7-0 vote, with Norris reading a statement emphasizing the district’s commitment to transparency.

Roberts, who was represented by attorney Alfredo Parrish, remains in federal custody in Des Moines. His case highlights ongoing debates over immigration enforcement, background checks for public officials, and the vetting processes in educational leadership roles. As proceedings continue, the full implications for the Des Moines school system and Roberts’ future remain unclear.