Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts Resigns Following ICE Arrest and License Revocation

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Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts Resigns Following ICE Arrest and License Revocation

2 months ago

News sources:

THEHILL 2

INDIATIMES 3

LATIMES

ABCNEWS

Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts Resigns Following ICE Arrest and License Revocation

Credited from: ABCNEWS

Des Moines superintendent Ian Roberts arrested by ICE for immigration violations.
Roberts has resigned after being placed on unpaid leave and having his license revoked.
The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the school district's hiring practices.

Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested last Friday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), raising significant concerns regarding his immigration status and employment eligibility. ICE reported that Roberts had a “final order of removal” issued by an immigration judge in May 2024, along with a prior weapons charge from February 2020. At the time of his arrest, Roberts was found in possession of a loaded handgun, a knife, and $3,000 in cash, which is illegal for noncitizens, according to The Hill and India Times.

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked Roberts' license shortly after the arrest, stating that he no longer possesses legal presence in the United States. This decision prompted the Des Moines school board to place him on unpaid administrative leave during a special meeting. Board Chair Jackie Norris emphasized that the district was unaware of Roberts' immigration issues during the hiring process, highlighting that he had completed a comprehensive background check upon his appointment in 2023, as reported by Los Angeles Times and India Times.

ABC News and India Times.

The Hill and Los Angeles Times.