Des Moines Public Schools superintendent detained by ICE

[Ban Hammer 14,550]

The superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Friday, according to the school district.

ICE said Ian Roberts was in the country illegally from Guyana and was working as a superintendent despite having "a final order of removal and no work authorization."

When officers conducting a "targeted enforcement operation" tried to approach Roberts in his car on Friday, the superintendent sped away, and the officers later found his car abandoned, ICE said.

Police helped find Roberts, and when he was taken into custody, the superintendent was in possession of a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife and $3,000 in cash, ICE said.

Roberts came to the U.S. on a student visa in 1999 and a judge gave him a "final order of removal" in May 2024, ICE said in a statement. Roberts has weapon possession charges from February 2020, the agency said.

more at https://abcnews.go.com/US/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-detained-ice/story?id=125975768
 

[Crazy Cat 45,369]

Are you serious?  Who hired him?  I'm glad the police assisted!!!

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,475]

23 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Are you serious?  Who hired him?  I'm glad the police assisted!!!

You beat me too it

[TBoneTX 48,043]

I read the same thing separately.  The Skool Bored really dropped the ball by not investigating and confirming his immigration status.  They were probably ecstatic to find an actual black person in Iowa.

[Boiler 48,027]

I thought it odd as those working in the School system are checked surely? Wonder what he put down on the I 9.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/26/ian-roberts-ice-detention-iowa-school-district-superintendent

 

This is the Guardian version obviously not quite right. So this morning this was their top story, since buried and if you did not know you would have a hard job finding it, hardly helps the narrative.

 

“His leadership and compassion for all students, regardless of background, identity, or family origin, are a beacon of light in one of the state’s most diverse school districts,” said Joshua Brown, the Iowa State Education Association president, and Anne Cross, the Des Moines Education Association president, in a joint statement. “It is a dark and unsettling time in our country. This incident has created tremendous fear for DMPS students, families, and staff.”

[Crazy Cat 45,369]

42 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I thought it odd as those working in the School system are checked surely? Wonder what he put down on the I 9.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/26/ian-roberts-ice-detention-iowa-school-district-superintendent

 

This is the Guardian version obviously not quite right. So this morning this was their top story, since buried and if you did not know you would have a hard job finding it, hardly helps the narrative.

 

“His leadership and compassion for all students, regardless of background, identity, or family origin, are a beacon of light in one of the state’s most diverse school districts,” said Joshua Brown, the Iowa State Education Association president, and Anne Cross, the Des Moines Education Association president, in a joint statement. “It is a dark and unsettling time in our country. This incident has created tremendous fear for DMPS students, families, and staff.”

Only illegals should be fearful.

[Ban Hammer 14,550]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

I thought it odd as those working in the School system are checked surely? Wonder what he put down on the I 9.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/26/ian-roberts-ice-detention-iowa-school-district-superintendent

 

This is the Guardian version obviously not quite right. So this morning this was their top story, since buried and if you did not know you would have a hard job finding it, hardly helps the narrative.

 

“His leadership and compassion for all students, regardless of background, identity, or family origin, are a beacon of light in one of the state’s most diverse school districts,” said Joshua Brown, the Iowa State Education Association president, and Anne Cross, the Des Moines Education Association president, in a joint statement. “It is a dark and unsettling time in our country. This incident has created tremendous fear for DMPS students, families, and staff.”

i saw on facebook earlier that the Chair of the Des Moines school board was Michelle Obama’s former Chief of Staff........

[Boiler 48,027]

WaPo said the same

[TBoneTX 48,043]

Believe me -- in Iowa, they're desperate to hire anyone of color, because there are so few choices.  Small wonder that corners were (way) cut.