"DES MOINES, Iowa -- Federal immigration agents targeted the well-liked leader of Iowa's largest school district in a traffic stop Friday and arrested him after he fled into the woods, leaving educators and community members stunned. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Des Moines Public School Superintendent Ian Roberts was in the country illegally and had no work authorization. Roberts, who is from Guyana in South America, was considered an ICE fugitive because he was subject to a final removal order issued in 2024,"
"ICE said that it targeted Roberts for arrest by initiating a traffic stop on Friday while he was driving in his school-issued vehicle. After he fled, officers discovered his vehicle abandoned near a wooded area. He was eventually located and taken into ICE custody with the help of Iowa State Patrol officers. Roberts was brought to Woodbury County's jail in northwest Iowa late Friday afternoon, according to jail and ICE records. It was unclear if Roberts had an attorney to represent him."
Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines schools, was stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a traffic stop and arrested after fleeing into nearby woods. ICE stated Roberts was in the country illegally, lacked work authorization, and was subject to a final removal order issued in 2024, labeling him an ICE fugitive. Officers located his abandoned school-issued vehicle and, with Iowa State Patrol assistance, took him into custody and transported him to Woodbury County jail. District officials reported no prior knowledge of a removal order, initiated a third-party background check, and noted Roberts completed an I-9. Roberts had a loaded handgun, $3,000 cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife when arrested, and it remained unclear whether he had legal representation.
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