ICE Arrests Illegal Alien School Superintendent in Armed Confrontation

Des Moines education chief fled deportation order for months while overseeing American children’s education, found with loaded weapon and $3,000 cash

Update – 9 days ago, Dr. Roberts appeared in a Des Moines school promotional video. The school district insists that they do not know why he was detained, and the board selected Roberts in a closed-door session, only announcing their decision after he had been awarded the role and accepting limited public comment:

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines, Iowa Public Schools, after he fled from federal agents and was discovered hiding. Agents discovered a loaded gun and a hunting knife inside his vehicle.

According to public records, Roberts was one of the highest-paid superintendents in Iowa, raking in a cool $305,917.

Roberts, an illegal alien from Guyana who has been evading a deportation order since May 2024, led one of Iowa’s largest school districts while operating as an active ICE fugitive.

The arrest exposes how foreign nationals with no legal right to remain in America have assumed positions of authority over American children and educational institutions and, as Nerve News recently reported, a growing number of institutions are intentionally placing foreigners in DEI offices.

According to senior ICE officials speaking to Fox News, Roberts identified himself as an immigration agent when approached by ICE, then fled in his vehicle before abandoning the car and attempting to escape on foot. Iowa State Police K9 units assisted in locating Roberts in a brushy area approximately 200 yards from his abandoned vehicle.

Armed Fugitive Leading School District

ICE agents discovered a loaded gun, a “fixed blade hunting knife,” and $3,000 in cash in Roberts’ vehicle during the arrest operation. The discovery of weapons raises serious questions about the vetting process that allowed an illegal alien to assume control of a major American school system.

Roberts first entered the United States in 1999 on an F-1 student visa at St. John’s University. Immigration courts ordered his removal from the United States on May 22, 2024, with proceedings conducted in absentia after Roberts failed to appear.

An Immigration Judge in Dallas, Texas denied Roberts’ Motion to Reopen his immigration case on April 24, 2025, confirming his status as a deportable alien with no legal basis to remain in the country.

Prior Criminal History Ignored

Federal sources revealed that Roberts also faces a weapons arrest from 2020, though the disposition of those charges remains unclear. The existence of prior criminal charges makes Roberts’ appointment to lead a school district even more troubling for parents and taxpayers.

The case demonstrates the complete failure of background check systems that should prevent illegal aliens from assuming positions of authority in American institutions, particularly those involving children’s safety and education.

Institutional Failure at Multiple Levels

Roberts’ case represents a systemic breakdown in immigration enforcement and institutional vetting. For months, an illegal alien subject to deportation orders continued drawing taxpayer-funded salaries while making educational decisions affecting thousands of American students.

The Des Moines school board and district administration failed to ensure their superintendent possessed legal authorization to work in the United States. This negligence allowed a foreign national with no legal standing to direct American educational policy and oversee American children.

Parents entrusted their children’s education to someone who was actively evading federal law enforcement and maintaining an illegal presence in the country.

Immigration Enforcement Success

The successful arrest demonstrates the importance of robust ICE operations and the agency’s commitment to removing illegal aliens who have exhausted legal processes. Roberts’ attempt to flee and his possession of weapons during the arrest validate concerns about public safety risks posed by deportation fugitives.

ICE officials credit cooperation with Iowa State Police in successfully apprehending Roberts after his attempt to escape federal custody. The multi-agency effort shows effective coordination between federal immigration enforcement and local law enforcement.

Educational Leadership Crisis

The arrest exposes broader problems with how American educational institutions hire leadership. School boards across the country must implement stronger verification procedures to ensure only American citizens and legal residents assume positions of authority over American students.

Roberts’ ability to maintain his position while under deportation orders suggests inadequate oversight of employment authorization in public education. Taxpayers funding these institutions deserve assurance that their money supports American workers and legal residents, not immigration fugitives.

The case underscores the need for mandatory E-Verify usage in all public sector positions, particularly those involving authority over American children and educational resources.

Pending Legal Proceedings

Roberts now faces federal immigration charges and potential additional criminal penalties related to his flight from ICE agents and weapons possession. His removal proceedings will continue under federal immigration law.

The Des Moines school district must immediately address the leadership vacuum created by Roberts’ arrest and explain to parents how an illegal alien assumed control of their children’s education while evading federal law enforcement.

Federal authorities continue investigating Roberts’ background and activities during his time as a fugitive from immigration justice.