DES MOINES, CMC-The Des Moines Public Faculties (DMPS) confirmed on Friday that the superintendent of Iowa’s largest faculty district, Dr. Ian Roberts, had been arrested by federal immigration authorities.
The Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) additionally confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers had taken Roberts into custody throughout a “focused enforcement operation.”
It stated that ICE officers approached Roberts in his automobile, and Roberts sped away, later abandoning his automobile close to a wooded space.
This led to an intensive search of the realm involving Federal brokers and legislation enforcement officers, and DHS stated Roberts had a loaded handgun, US$3,000 in money, and a fixed-blade searching knife when detained.
“This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a automobile supplied by Des Moines Public Faculties after fleeing federal legislation enforcement,” stated ICE ERO St. Paul Area Workplace Director Sam Olson.
“This must be a wake-up name for our communities to the good work that our officers are doing day-after-day to take away public security threats. How this unlawful alien was employed with out work authorization, a closing order of removing, and a previous weapons cost is past comprehension and may alarm the mother and father of that college district.”
DHS stated that it’s unlawful for somebody with out authorized immigration standing to own a firearm and ammunition.
The DHS acknowledged that Roberts entered the USA in 1999 on a scholar visa and acquired a closing order of removing by an immigration decide in Could 2024. He additionally has an present cost for possession of a weapon from February 2020.
Official DMPS paperwork present that Roberts was born to immigrant mother and father from Guyana and spent most of his childhood in Brooklyn, New York. He acquired his undergraduate training from Coppin State College, has grasp’s levels from St. John’s College and Georgetown College, and a doctorate from Trident College.
Roberts has been superintendent at DMPS since July 1, 2023. Beforehand, he served as a superintendent in Pennsylvania at Millcreek Township Faculty District. He has additionally labored at school districts in St. Louis, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the South Bronx, New York.
DMPS Faculty Board President, Jackie Norris, stated that “our precedence is to supply a protected, safe, and excellent training for all college students and to assist our college students, households, and workers”.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ workplace launched a press release Friday saying “Governor Reynolds was made conscious this morning that Ian Roberts was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers and is involved with the Iowa Division of Public Security and federal authorities.”
The Iowa State Training Affiliation and Des Moines Training Affiliation later launched a press release stating, “We have been shocked to listen to of Dr. Ian Roberts’s detainment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers early this morning.
“Since being employed as superintendent of Des Moines Public Faculties, we now have recognized Dr. Roberts to be an amazing advocate for college kids, households, employees, and the neighborhood. His management and compassion for all college students, no matter background, identification, or household origin, are a beacon of sunshine in one of many state’s most various faculty districts.
“It’s a darkish and unsettling time in our nation. This incident has created super worry for DMPS college students, households, and employees. We name on the neighborhood to return collectively and assist one another.”
Since his re-election, President Donald Trump has signed an government order permitting for the expulsion of unlawful immigrations. However the actions have led to criticisms that individuals who have been resident in the USA for a lot of a long time are amongst these detained and deported by immigration officers.
