The situation surrounding immigrants accused of deceit regarding the high-paying flexible job openings with Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa is intensifying.
On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security released a comprehensive account of criminal activities attributed to Ian Roberts, who was apprehended by federal authorities on September 28th.
ICE reported that Roberts, originally from Guyana, illegally resided in the United States and committed numerous other offenses during his time there.
“He would never have been placed in the role of supervising children in Iowa’s largest school district,” stated the press release.
Roberts attempted to escape when confronted by ICE but was subsequently detained with assistance from a patrol in Iowa.
A loaded handgun, a hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash were discovered in his vehicle at the time of his arrest. He was charged on October 2nd for being an undocumented immigrant found with a firearm, as per ICE’s statement.
Initially, some left-leaning individuals defended Roberts, seeking “radical sympathy” to shield him from repercussions. However, those views faded as more evidence surfaced.
ICE reiterated that Roberts committed multiple offenses during his unauthorized stay in the U.S., including:
- July 1996: Charges for criminal possession of narcotics with intent to distribute.
- November 1998: A claim for vehicle misuse was rejected.
- November 2012: Convicted of reckless driving and speeding in Maryland.
- February 2020: Allegations of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
- January 2022: Convicted in Pennsylvania of illegal firearm possession.
- September 2025: Arrested by ICE officers.
- October 2025: Charged with being an undocumented immigrant with a firearm.
A detailed history of interactions concerning Roberts’ immigration status was also released:
- 1994: Departed on a non-immigrant visa but returned before his initial arrest.
- 1999: Left for San Francisco on a student visa.
- 2000: His work authorization request was approved by ICE.
- 2001: His green card application was denied. He applied three more times in 2018 and was rejected each time.
- 2020: Received a notice to appear before an immigration judge.
- 2024: Ordered for removal by a judge in Texas.
- April 2025: An immigration judge denied a motion to reopen his case.
- September 2025: Arrested by ICE agents.
ICE indicated that he is in custody and will face charges for his recent offenses.
School officials who approved Roberts’ employment are under scrutiny after learning that he misrepresented his PhD and other qualifications.
A small protest occurred on Tuesday at the Iowa State Capitol, where some students held signs reading “radical empathy.”
“I doubt he truly understands the ramifications of being undocumented,” remarked a 17-year-old protest organizer. “It’s just disheartening that someone supportive is being taken away from us right now.”
