For the past two years, Ian Roberts was the superintendent for the Des Moines Public School District. He was widely respected and valued by his community. It came as a shock to many people to find out Roberts had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on September 26, 2025, for illegally living in the United States.
“The manner they did it [detainment] was very publicized. It didn’t need to be that way. He was such a symbol for the kids, and knowing he got taken for being an illegal [immigrant] can scar them for life,” Niko Meshesha ‘27 said.
Roberts is originally from Guyana, South America. He initially came to the U.S. in 1999 on a student visa that was set to expire in 2004. Then he received a work visa that would expire in 2020. Roberts claimed to have received his doctorate from Morgan State University in Maryland, although it was confirmed by the school district that he did not complete his education. His final order of removal was issued in May 2024; however, he remained in the U.S. Before becoming a superintendent, Roberts had a lengthy criminal record, including drug possession and several weapon charges. The school district claims they were only aware of Roberts’ minor firearm charge and not the older, major offenses. The school district has filed a lawsuit against the search firm, JG Consulting, which had failed at a proper background check.
“I feel like the whole situation kind of came as a surprise to everyone,” Meshesha said.
Early Friday morning on September 26th, Roberts had been operating a Des Moines Public School-issued vehicle. When he was approached by ICE officials, he sped away instead of cooperating. Later on, the vehicle was discovered abandoned on the south side of Des Moines. Inside, the vehicle contained a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a hunting knife. Eventually, that same morning, Roberts was located in a wooded area near the vehicle and detained by immigration officials. Later that day, Roberts was placed in Woodbury County Jail.
“Now those kids aren’t going to trust anybody because they’re [ICE] building that image of, you can’t trust anybody. Because they thought he was a good person, but he lied, and he’s illegal. I feel like they could’ve done so much more with their power, and they could’ve left a better image instead of trying to push their agenda that every illegal [immigrant] is a bad person,” Meshesha said.
The Des Moines community had a wide range of emotional responses to Robert’s absence. For many, it was a shocking moment, or even a disheartening one, but for school board officials, the biggest concern was how to move forward after Robert’s arrest. Superintendents play a major part when it comes to helping their districts function properly. The school district lost an important part of its school board personnel right as the school year began.
“My main role in the district is to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the district and to serve as a liaison between the school district and the greater JCSD community. In addition, I help to ensure that as a district we are following board policies, and provide oversight to the district’s finances, personnel, instruction, and operations,” Dr. Nikki Roorda, Johnston’s superintendent, said.
Matthew Smith, who has been with the district for over a decade, has taken over the role of interim superintendent for Des Moines schools. He had previously taken this position in the 2022-2023 school year. Smith’s experience in the role has brought stability and relief to many Des Moines families. He is set to keep this position until 2027.
“Matt Smith is an experienced leader who has demonstrated time and time again his commitment and dedication to our students and the entire Des Moines community,” said School Board Chair Jackie Norris in a DMPS news release.
As of now, Roberts remains in federal custody. Investigations on the case continue. The trial date for Roberts will take place on December 1st, where his firearm and immigration charges will be on trial. Depending on the proceeding, Roberts will either serve time in a federal prison as a consequence of his firearm charge, or he could be deported by immigration forces if the charges end up being dropped or reduced. No matter the outcome, December 1st will be a day to remember for many Des Moines families.
“I personally know people in the Des Moines area that are immigrants; they might not be illegal, but they are scared for their lives… These flags are just going to get more red every time. If we keep breezing past them, it’s not going to get any better,” Meshesha said.
