Public Schools Secretary Ian Andre Roberts, based in Des Moines, Iowa, was apprehended by an Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent after it was revealed that he was illegally residing in the United States and was found with a loaded handgun.
On Friday, ICE announced that Roberts, a Guyanese national, had entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999. He had received a final deportation order from a federal immigration judge in May 2024.
ICE agents encountered Roberts in his vehicle, which was provided by the Des Moines Public Schools as part of his role as a school supervisor. However, he fled the scene, abandoning the car in a wooded area. Inside the vehicle, agents discovered a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife. Working in conjunction with the Iowa State Patrol, ICE managed to locate and arrest Roberts.
“The suspect was apprehended for having a loaded weapon in a vehicle assigned to him by Des Moines Public Schools after attempting to flee from federal law enforcement,” stated ICE’s Sam Olson.
This incident should serve as a crucial reminder to our community about the dedicated efforts to eliminate threats to public safety. It’s incomprehensible how this individual was employed without a job permit, despite having a final removal order and a previous request related to weapons. Parents in that district need to be informed. [Emphasis added]
Roberts had previously faced charges for weapon possession back in February 2020.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is currently investigating how Roberts managed to obtain a handgun, given that he is an illegal alien, which violates federal laws.
Roberts had been appointed principal of Des Moines Public Schools in July 2023 following a broad national search that involved input from the school community, including the school board and families, as noted on the district’s website.
“I am passionate about educational excellence, diversity, equity, inclusion, and innovation in education,” the website states.
