Summary
The superintendent of Iowa's largest school district, Ian Andre Roberts, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying his student visa and possessing a firearm illegally. Roberts, a citizen of Guyana, was found with a loaded handgun, cash, and a hunting knife, and had previously been ordered to be deported by a federal judge. Roberts had been working without a valid permit since 2020 and led the district since 2021.
Key Facts
- Ian Andre Roberts was arrested by ICE for overstaying his student visa and possessing a firearm.
- He is the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa's largest school district.
- Roberts is a citizen of Guyana, and his work permit expired in 2020.
- ICE found him with a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a hunting knife.
- A federal judge ordered him to be deported in 2024.
- Roberts initially entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999.
- Before Iowa, he worked as an educator in four other U.S. states.
- He competed for Guyana in track and field at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
