U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Friday that Ian Roberts, the Guyanese superintendent of Des Moines Public Colleges, was arrested throughout a focused enforcement operation and brought into federal custody on immigration and weapons-related expenses.
In keeping with an ICE assertion, Roberts—a Guyana nationwide—was present in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in money, and a fixed-blade looking knife on the time of his arrest. ICE alleges that Roberts, who entered the US in 1999 on a scholar visa, had a last order of removing issued by an immigration choose in Could 2024 and no authorized authorization to work within the nation.
Through the Sept. 26 operation, officers approached Roberts in his car after figuring out themselves, however he allegedly sped away. ICE mentioned his car was later found deserted close to a wooded space, the place he was situated with help from the Iowa State Patrol. The company added that Roberts has present weapons possession expenses from February 5, 2020, and that the investigation into how he obtained the handgun has been referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a car offered by Des Moines Public Colleges after fleeing federal regulation enforcement,” mentioned ICE ERO St. Paul Subject Workplace Director Sam Olson.
“This needs to be a wake-up name for our communities to the good work that our officers are doing each day to take away public security threats. How this unlawful alien was employed with out work authorization, a last order of removing, and a previous weapons cost is past comprehension and may alarm the mother and father of that faculty district.”
Earlier Friday, Des Moines faculty board president Jackie Norris confirmed that Roberts had been detained however mentioned the district had “no confirmed data as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the following potential steps.” At a day press convention, Norris highlighted Roberts’ 20-year profession in U.S. schooling and famous that he was licensed by the Iowa Board of Instructional Examiners to function superintendent in July 2023. District officers declined to take questions, citing authorized constraints.
Roberts, who was employed in 2023 to steer Iowa’s largest faculty district and is the primary particular person of colour to carry the position, stays in ICE custody on the Pottawattamie County Jail. The Des Moines faculty board introduced that Affiliate Superintendent Matt Smith will function interim superintendent efficient instantly.
The College Directors of Iowa mentioned it’s involved with Smith “to supply our assist” and pledged to help the district “because the state of affairs unfolds.”
