Crime
Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools Ian Andre Roberts Arrested by ICE
A senior official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed that Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested on Thursday, September 26, 2025, during a targeted enforcement operation.
ICE identified Dr. Roberts as a citizen of Guyana who has been living in the United States without legal status and has been subject to a final deportation order since May 2024.
According to ICE, agents approached Dr. Roberts while he was inside his vehicle.
Upon identifying themselves as immigration officers, Roberts allegedly fled the scene at high speed before abandoning his car nearby.
He was located approximately 200 yards away in a brush-covered area with the assistance of an Iowa State Patrol K9 unit.
During a search of the abandoned vehicle, ICE agents reported recovering a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and approximately $3,000 in cash.
The vehicle, according to officials, was one provided to Roberts in his role as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools.
ICE records show that Roberts first entered the United States in 1999 on an F-1 student visa to attend St. John’s University in New York. On May 22, 2024, he was ordered removed from the country in absentia.
A subsequent motion to reopen his immigration case was denied by an immigration judge in Dallas, Texas, on April 24, 2025.
Roberts also has a prior weapons-related arrest dating back to February 5, 2020, though the current status of that case remains unclear.
The investigation into how Roberts obtained the firearm has been referred to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as federal law prohibits individuals without lawful immigration status from possessing firearms or ammunition.
ICE ERO St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson issued a statement following the arrest:
“This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement. This should be a wake-up call for our communities to the great work that our officers are doing every day to remove public safety threats. How this illegal alien was hired without work authorization, a final order of removal, and a prior weapons charge is beyond comprehension and should alarm the parents of that school district.”
ICE expressed gratitude to the Iowa State Patrol for their assistance in the operation.
Roberts remains in ICE custody as the investigation continues.
Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred early Saturday morning during a domestic altercation at an apartment on Mel Smith Road, located in an unincorporated area outside New Albany.
The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) received the initial emergency call at approximately 5:39 a.m. on November 15, 2025, reporting a disturbance involving family members.
While officers were en route, additional information indicated that shots had been fired inside the residence.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered a domestic situation involving a mother and her two adult sons.
Officers immediately secured the scene and began administering medical aid to one of the men who had sustained gunshot wounds.
The second male remained at the location and cooperated fully with responding officers.
The injured individual was transported to a nearby hospital; however, he later died as a result of his injuries.
Detectives with the Floyd County Criminal Investigations Division (CID) have taken over the case and processed the scene for evidence.
Early findings suggest the shooting may have occurred in self-defense, though officials emphasize that the investigation is still in its preliminary stages.
The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the incident was isolated and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Authorities state that additional updates will be released as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available.
The case remains active.