Social media has been buzzing this week after arrests by immigration and customs enforcement involved Des Moines Public Schools supervisors.
Ian Roberts, one of the supervisors, was taken into custody by ICE. According to them, he was illegally residing in the U.S. after arriving from Guyana, without legal work authorization. He reportedly had a final removal order from a judge dating back to last May.
One lawyer expressed disbelief, stating, “Incredible. The illegal aliens with deportation orders have become supervising schools in Des Moines and have made more than $300,000 a year,” on social media.
In a twist, Roberts had a previous charge related to weapons, as he was allegedly found with a loaded handgun during his arrest.
Another user reacted with confusion, asking, “How about people here as illegal aliens in this position?!?!?!?” A retired sheriff’s director added, “This is crazy!”
Someone even pondered, “Incredible story. How does this happen and what other places have similar situations?”
ICE also arrested a suspected MS-13 gang member who lived alarmingly close to a junior high school.
Roberts’ arrest drew sharp criticism from some quarters. R-Iowa Sen. Ashley Hinson asserted, “He should be deported immediately. He should have never been anywhere around Iowa children in the first place!” Yet, there were also protests against his arrest. Reports indicated demonstrations occurred in the city, where some argued about the situation. One protester highlighted his educational achievements, saying, “Now they are arresting a superintendent who has a PhD and a Masters degree who was an Olympic athlete.”
After fleeing the authorities, Roberts was captured, having abandoned his vehicle in a wooded area. The Iowa state patrol eventually located him. Sam Olson, director of the ICE ERO St. Paul Field Office, highlighted the broader implications of the case: “This should be a wake-up call to our community for the amazing work our community does every day to remove the threat to public safety.” He found the circumstances surrounding Roberts’ case to be troubling.
According to the school district, Roberts had previously completed an I-9 form for verification of his legal status, conducted by a third-party group, and was unaware of any removal order. Reports indicate Roberts came to the U.S. on a student visa in 1999 and faced weapons charges in 2020.
