The superintendent of Des Moines public schools, Ian Roberts, resigned Tuesday as he confronts a looming deportation order, his attorney confirmed. Roberts, a former Olympic runner from Guyana, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which says he has been living and working in the country illegally.
Attorney Alfredo Parrish said Roberts had previously been told by another lawyer that his immigration case had been “resolved successfully.” Parrish’s firm has filed a request to pause Roberts’ deportation in Omaha, Nebraska, and is preparing another motion to reopen his immigration proceedings.
Last week, a state board stripped Roberts of his license to serve as superintendent. On Monday, the Des Moines school board placed him on unpaid leave. Board chair Jackie Norris gave Roberts until Tuesday noon to provide proof that he could legally work in the U.S. or face dismissal. The board plans a special meeting Tuesday night to decide whether to accept his resignation.
Roberts’ arrest has fueled broader controversy. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced an investigation into whether the district engaged in racial discrimination by favoring non-white applicants as part of efforts to “increase the number of teachers of color.” A district spokesperson said the matter is under review.
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Roberts, 54, is being held at Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, Iowa, about 150 miles northwest of Des Moines. Parrish described him as a “tremendous advocate to this community” and an inspiration to students. He thanked the public for the support and said Roberts’ spirits remained high despite the uncertainty.
“This is a very complex case,” Parrish said, according to AP. “It will take time to investigate.” He acknowledged that Roberts could face deportation at any moment and that it is unclear if his new appeals will be considered.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also investigating a handgun allegedly found in Roberts’ district vehicle during his arrest. The matter could result in federal charges.
Meanwhile, the office of U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican representing Des Moines, released a redacted portion of Roberts’ May 2024 removal order obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. The document states that Roberts was notified to appear at a removal hearing but failed to show up or pursue other legal relief. An immigration judge found evidence supporting his removal and ordered Roberts to leave the U.S. voluntarily or face deportation.
Parrish confirmed that Roberts was born in Guyana but did not provide details about his U.S. citizenship status, permanent residency, or the circumstances of his removal proceedings last year. He did, however, share a March 2025 letter from Roberts’ former Texas attorney, Jackeline Gonzalez, stating the case had been successfully resolved. “It has been my pleasure to represent you throughout this process, and I am pleased to report that your case has reached a successful resolution,” Gonzalez wrote.
Norris said the district first learned of the removal order on Monday. She noted that Roberts signed a form claiming U.S. citizenship when hired in 2023 and submitted a Social Security card and driver’s license as proof. Court records show that Roberts presented a Maryland driver’s license for traffic citations in 2023 and 2024, though the licenses listed different addresses. He has also been registered to vote at one of those addresses since at least 2017, though the Maryland Board of Elections said the registration may have been unintentional and shows no voting history.
