On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a detailed statement outlining the shocking criminal history and immigration violations of Ian Andre Roberts. He was the former head of Des Moines Public Schools.

 He is currently in Polk County Jail under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and faces charges of illegal firearm possession.

Former Superintendent Ian Andre Roberts Arrested by ICE

Following his recent arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Roberts, an illegal alien from Guyana, was taken into custody after allegedly fleeing law enforcement and abandoning his vehicle in the woods before being found by the Iowa State Patrol, according to a DHS press release.

Iowa superintendent Ian Roberts arrested by ICE for alleged illegal status | Fox News

DHS: “He Should Never Have Been Serving Around Children”

DHS stated that Roberts’ “rap sheet and immigration history reveal a long record of criminal conduct in the United States,” adding that such a background proves “he should never have been serving in a role overseeing children in Iowa’s largest school district.”

During a search of Roberts’ home, investigators discovered three loaded guns, including a 9mm pistol hidden under a seat cushion, a rifle in his bedroom closet, and a shotgun behind his bed’s headboard.

ICE’s St. Paul Field Office Director Sam Olson said:

“This suspect was arrested in possession of a loaded weapon in a vehicle provided by Des Moines Public Schools after fleeing federal law enforcement.”

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A Trail of Convictions and Legal Troubles Across States

According to DHS, Roberts’ criminal history spans multiple states and decades.

• In Maryland (2012), he was convicted of reckless driving, unsafe operation, and speeding.
• In Pennsylvania (2022), he was convicted of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.
• In New York (1996), Roberts faced charges of criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell, forgery, and possession of forged instruments.
• Additional weapons charges were filed in 2020 for second-, third-, and fourth-degree firearm offenses.

DHS also revealed that Roberts was illegally registered to vote as a Democrat in Maryland, prompting scrutiny of state voter registration systems.

Employment Fraud and Fake Degrees

Roberts’ employment history includes senior educational roles in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, California, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. Despite being an undocumented immigrant, he managed to ascend to top leadership positions in public school districts.

After his ICE arrest, Roberts resigned from his position as Des Moines superintendent, a role he held since 2023. Initially placed on paid leave, the Des Moines School Board later switched him to unpaid leave before voting to accept his resignation.

Des Moines school board accepts Roberts resignation after work authorization issues | Fox News

The board also uncovered degree fraud after verifying discrepancies on his LinkedIn profile.

• Morgan State University confirmed Roberts attended but never graduated.
• MIT’s Registrar’s Office stated it had no record of his enrollment in any program, including the MIT Sloan Executive MBA.
  Roberts’ prior leadership at Millcreek Township School District in Pennsylvania was also controversial. The district paid over $400,000 in settlements to resolve sex discrimination lawsuits filed during his tenure, according to GoErie.

Immigration Violations and Deportation Order

DHS confirmed that Roberts first entered the U.S. as a visitor in 1994, later re-entering on a student visa in 1999. He filed for employment authorization three times—in 2000, 2018, and 2019—but his last authorization expired in 2020.

A Dallas immigration judge ordered Roberts removed in absentia in May 2024, but he allegedly continued working illegally.

ICE officers, aided by Iowa State Patrol, arrested Roberts on September 26, finding $3,000 in cash, a fixed-blade knife, and a loaded Glock 9mm pistol in his vehicle.

DHS Vows Continued Crackdown

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement:

“Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien with multiple weapons charges and a drug trafficking charge, should have never been able to work around children.”
“Under Secretary Noem, ICE will continue to arrest the worst of the worst and put the safety of America’s children FIRST.”

Dr Ian Roberts, Des Moines school's chief detained for illegal status | Fox News

School chief to suspect: ICE arrest of Des Moines superintendent exposes fake degrees, drug convictions