September 27, 2025
Roberts, a former Olympian and Guyanese immigrant, turned the primary Black particular person to supervise the biggest college district in Iowa when he was appointed the superintendent of Des Moines public faculties in 2023.
On Sept. 26, Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) brokers detained former Olympian and Guyanese immigrant Dr. Ian Roberts, who in 2023 turned the primary Black particular person to supervise the biggest college district in Iowa when he was appointed the superintendent of Des Moines public faculties.
In keeping with The Guardian, the Division of Homeland Safety alleges that Roberts was arrested because of the existence of “a last order of removing and no work authorization.”
Per their assertion given to the outlet, their justification for the arrest is as follows: “Throughout a focused enforcement operation on Sept. 26, 2025, officers approached Roberts in his car after figuring out himself, however he sped away. Officers later found his car deserted close to a wooded space. State Patrol assisted in finding the topic and he was taken into ICE custody. Roberts has current weapon possession costs from February 5, 2020. Roberts entered the USA in 1999 on a scholar visa and was given a last order of removing by an immigration decide in Could of 2024.”
As The Des Moines Register stories, the arrest despatched shockwaves via the local people, epitomized by College Board Chair Jackie Norris’ feedback at a information convention.
“We should not have all of the info. There’s a lot we have no idea,” she mentioned throughout the press convention. “Nonetheless, what we do know is Dr. Roberts has been an integral a part of our faculty neighborhood since he joined two years in the past.”
In keeping with Norris, Affiliate Superintendent Matt Smith will function interim superintendent till additional discover, Smith previously served because the interim superintendent earlier than Roberts was appointed to his place in June 2023.
The college district, in the meantime, mentioned in an announcement to the outlet that it “has not been formally notified by ICE about this matter, nor have we been in a position to speak with Dr. Roberts since his detention.”
Per ICE Enforcement and Elimination Operations St. Paul Discipline Workplace Director Sam Olson, “This needs to be a wake-up name for our communities to the nice work that our officers are doing every single day to take away public security threats. How this unlawful alien was employed with out work authorization, a last order of removing, and a previous weapons cost is past comprehension and will alarm the dad and mom of that faculty district.”
Nonetheless, the one factor that the arrest of Roberts, a former mid-distance runner for his native Guyana throughout the 2000 Olympic Video games in Sydney, has garnered is protests and alarm from neighborhood teams and members {that a} trusted member of the neighborhood was arrested by ICE on what look like doubtful circumstances.
In keeping with an announcement from The Administrators Council, an umbrella group of a number of nonprofits targeted on Des Moines’ Black neighborhood, posted to Fb, Roberts is “a valued member of our board,” whose detention presently lacks context and clarification.
The group continued, “Dr. Roberts has been a trusted associate, a devoted advocate for fairness, and an unwavering supporter of households and youth in Polk County. His contributions to each The Administrators Council and the broader neighborhood are immeasurable, and we stand with him throughout this unsure second.”
Alison Hoeman, founding father of a neighborhood nonprofit, Des Moines Refugees Help, indicated to the outlet that her cellphone has been blown up with calls and texts providing help for Roberts, and he or she has indicated that she is conscious that college students have been asking about Roberts with concern, ““‘Nothing’s going to occur to Dr. Roberts, proper?’”
She continued, “You realize it’s the Black and Brown children who’re frightened. If it’s Ian Roberts who’s in bother, what does that imply for them?”
Mazie Stilwell, government director of the liberal group Progress Iowa, indicated that “solutions and applicable motion,” are wanted from Iowa’s elected officers within the face of deep uncertainty over Roberts’ arrest.
Stilwell, the mum or dad of a scholar enrolled in DPMS, continued, “No Iowan is protected. We’re dwelling beneath a fascist regime as a result of Nunn, Miller-Meeks, Hinson and each single Iowa Member of Congress has been in lockstep with the MAGA administration that’s terrorizing our communities. President Trump is keen to make use of political energy in opposition to anybody who disagrees with him.”
To Stilwell’s level, the Republicans in Iowa, together with U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, whose district consists of the DMPS, have been publicly supportive of the arrest of Roberts, whereas Democrats, like Iowa Rep. Larry McBurney (D-Des Moines) indicated on social media that he was “livid” concerning the arrest of Roberts.
“This isn’t solely unacceptable, it’s an outright shame,” he mentioned in an announcement. “Our faculties ought to by no means be handled as political battlegrounds for federal overreach.”
Rep. McBurney continued, “I maintain President Trump and Iowa’s delegation — Congressman Zach Nunn, Senator Chuck Grassley, and Senator Joni Ernst — straight liable for this motion. Their silence or complicity won’t go unnoticed. If they’ve any shred of management, they have to intervene instantly.”
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