Dr. Ian Andre Roberts, a former Baltimore principal and current superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested on Friday after ICE officials conducted a targeted operation. As reported by CBS News Baltimore, Roberts' detainment has sent shockwaves through the community he served. The superintendent graduated from Coppin State University and had been an Olympian representing Guyana. He was in ICE custody as of the last updates.
Information from WMAR-2 News adds that Roberts was allegedly found with a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a hunting knife at the time of his arrest. Officials suggest he had initially entered the United States on a student visa in 1999 and was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge in May of 2024. Roberts seemingly attempted to flee from ICE officers before abandoning his vehicle and getting apprehended near a wooded area.
The arrest has sparked protests in Des Moines, where Roberts was highly regarded in his role as superintendent. "What we do know is Dr. Roberts has been an integral part of our school community since he joined more than two years ago," Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines school board, said in a statement obtained by CBS News Baltimore. Similarly, interim Des Moines superintendent Matt Smith expressed solidarity with the community's reaction to the news: "We stand firm with our community. Many of whom are feeling sad, outraged, and helpless. We understand, as we too our devastated by the news of his detainment."
Concerns over Roberts' alleged illegal presence in the U.S. and his involvement in prior charges have been cited by ICE as reasons for his custody. ICE labeled Roberts a "public safety threat," referencing a prior weapons charge and the fact that he was supposedly found with a loaded firearm after fleeing law enforcement.
