U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released new information on the arrest of Guyanese national Ian Roberts, who was serving as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools at the time of his September 26 arrest.
According to ICE, Roberts attempted to evade authorities when they approached him. He initially identified himself, then sped off in his vehicle before abandoning it and hiding in a brushy area roughly 200 meters away. With assistance from the Iowa State Patrol, officers located and arrested him. A loaded Glock 9mm handgun, a hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash were found in his vehicle. On October 2, Roberts was charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.
ICE said Roberts’ criminal and immigration history stretches back nearly three decades. Records show he has faced multiple charges across several states, including narcotics possession with intent to sell in New York in 1996, reckless driving in Maryland in 2012, and several weapons charges in New York and Pennsylvania between 2020 and 2022.
Immigration records also reveal a long trail of visa entries, expired student visas, and four separate failed green card applications. Roberts was first admitted to the U.S. in 1994 on a B-2 visitor visa and later reentered multiple times on an F-1 student visa. He was issued temporary employment authorization documents on several occasions but was ultimately denied permanent residency.
In May 2024, an immigration judge in Dallas, Texas, ordered Roberts removed in absentia. His motion to reopen the case was denied in April 2025. Despite that order, Roberts remained in the U.S. and was serving as superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district until last month.
Roberts is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and faces prosecution on firearms charges.
