Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Andre Roberts has been placed on unpaid leave after his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed he held a final deportation order. Roberts drew a base salary of approximately $286,716 while serving Iowa’s largest school district, raising urgent questions about hiring oversight and legal accountability.
Roberts, hired in July 2023 as superintendent, submitted employment eligibility paperwork claiming U.S. citizenship, including a Social Security number and driver’s license. After his ICE arrest, it emerged that he was ordered deported in May 2024 and lacked lawful immigration status. During his arrest, authorities found $3,000 in cash, a fixed‑blade hunting knife, and a loaded handgun in a school‑issued vehicle.
The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked Roberts’ administrative license shortly after the arrest, effectively disqualifying him from continuing in his role. The school board then unanimously voted to move him to unpaid leave and named Associate Superintendent Matt Smith as interim. Officials say they were unaware of Roberts’ immigration status when hiring, though Roberts passed a third‑party background check and completed Form I‑9 documentation.
District board chair Jackie Norris, running for the U.S. Senate, commented that Roberts had been “an effective and well‑respected leader” but that “serious questions” now shadow his ability to legally lead. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn has demanded full documentation from federal agencies to clarify the timeline and circumstances of the arrest.
ICE has described the situation as a “wake‑up call,” noting that Roberts was in possession of a firearm while lacking legal standing to reside in or work in the U.S. The ATF is expected to investigate the weapon issue. Critics are now spotlighting the gap in verification processes in public institutions that allowed such a high‑level hire despite underlying legal risks.
Roberts previously held education leadership roles in Maryland, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., even as his eligibility remained uncertain. His case has ignited debates over enforcement, trust in public institutions, and the necessity of strict verification in public sector hiring.
