The leader of Iowa’s largest school district lost his professional license Monday, just days after his arrest by federal authorities on allegations that he had been living and working in the United States unlawfully.
The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners notified Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts that he could no longer hold a license, writing that “you no longer possess legal presence in the United States.”
Roberts, a 54-year-old native of Guyana, entered the country on a student visa in 1999, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE agents detained him Friday, saying he had been under a final removal order issued by a judge in May 2024. He is currently being held in an Iowa jail.
ICE also said Roberts fled from a Des Moines traffic stop before being caught with help from the Iowa State Patrol. At the time of his arrest, agents reported finding a loaded handgun in his district-issued vehicle, along with a hunting knife and $3,000 in cash.
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District leaders said they were unaware of any issues regarding Roberts’ legal status. When hired in 2023, he had signed documents verifying his work eligibility, and officials said a search firm had identified him as a finalist. The licensing process included background checks conducted by the FBI and state police.
Roberts’ sudden detention rattled the school system, where he was widely known for attending neighborhood gatherings and championing students. His career in education spanned more than twenty years, including time as a superintendent in Pennsylvania before moving to Iowa, AP reported.
On Saturday, the Des Moines school board met briefly to place Roberts on paid administrative leave. A second meeting was scheduled Monday to consider shifting him to unpaid status after the state board formally revoked his license.
“New information and confirmed facts will continue to inform our decisions as we develop a path forward,” board chair Jackie Norris said. “Two things can be true at the same time — Dr. Roberts was an effective and well-respected leader and there are serious questions related to his citizenship and ability to legally perform his duties as superintendent.”
Meanwhile, ICE said it had requested an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into how Roberts obtained a firearm, since people without legal status cannot legally own guns. Records show Roberts had prior history with weapons, including a 2021 citation in Pennsylvania for keeping a loaded hunting rifle in his vehicle, for which he was fined $100.
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The agency also noted that Roberts still faces a separate pending weapons charge from February 2020, though no additional details were released.
