Former Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts Taken into Federal Custody Amid Deportation Proceedings

Ian Roberts, former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was initially detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a final removal order issued in 2024 and held at the Woodbury County Jail in Iowa. He was arrested after fleeing a traffic stop and was found with a loaded handgun, cash, and a hunting knife; ICE also referred his case to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for investigation regarding the firearm. Following his detention, Roberts resigned from his position and was later taken into custody by the U.S. Department of Justice on a federal warrant, removing him from county jail custody. Authorities executed a federal search warrant at Roberts' residence shortly after his arrest. Roberts' legal team plans to hold a public town hall to discuss the case, though details remain limited due to sealed federal criminal proceedings. The situation has prompted protests and heightened security measures at the Woodbury County Jail.