Des Moines Superintendent Arrested by ICE; DOJ Probes Hiring

Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, resigned after his arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a final order of removal; authorities say he attempted to evade officers and that a loaded handgun, a hunting knife and about $3,000 were found in his vehicle. Roberts, a Guyana native hired in July 2023 to lead the district of about 30,000 students, had his license revoked by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and was placed on unpaid administrative leave. His attorneys said they will seek to reopen his immigration case and obtain a stay of deportation while disputing aspects of the federal account. Questions have emerged about undisclosed prior weapons charges and discrepancies in his academic credentials during the hiring process. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has opened a probe into the district’s recruitment, hiring and retention practices after materials reportedly set race-based targets and quotas for teachers of color that may violate Title VII.