In brief
Ian Roberts, Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Friday. The school board confirmed that they lack information regarding the reasons for his detention. Roberts, who has only recently assumed his role in July 2023 and comes from a family of immigrants, is currently reported to be in custody, though specific details remain unclear.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Ian Roberts, the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents Friday morning, according to a statement from the school board president, Jackie Norris. Currently, the school district has not provided further information regarding the situation or the reasons behind Roberts' detention.Roberts, aged 52, took up his position in July 2023, overseeing a district that educates approximately 30,000 students. His biography showcases a personal connection to immigration, detailing that he was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and later grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Despite being reported to be in custody at a county jail in western Iowa, officials at the Pottawattamie County jail cannot confirm his presence there. ICE spokespersons have also refrained from providing information about the case. The lack of clarity regarding the reasons for the detention has left the community and the school board awaiting developments in this unexpected matter.
