ICE agents arrested an illegal immigrant who was working as the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools on Friday, taking him into custody during a targeted enforcement operation. Ian Roberts, who is originally from Guyana, South America, was arrested after fleeing from federal officers in a school district vehicle, according to ICE's press release. Roberts was managing the 32,000-student district despite being an illegal alien with a final order of removal and no work authorization. During his arrest, officers found Roberts in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed-blade hunting knife. He was taken to Woodbury Countys jail in northwest Iowa on Friday evening, as confirmed by jail and ICE records. A spokesperson for the district, Phil Roeder, revealed that he had planned to meet with Roberts at a school event that morning but subsequently received a text from Roberts stating he couldnt make it. Later, Roeder received a video call from Roberts, witnessing the arrest by ICE officers himself. ICE officers had approached Roberts in his vehicle, but he immediately fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle near a wooded area before being arrested with assistance from the Iowa State Patrol. Roberts originally entered the United States in 1999 on a student visa, with an immigration judge issuing his final order of removal in May 2024. Yet, he continued in his role as superintendent without the necessary legal work authorization. The superintendent also has existing weapon possession charges dating back to February 5, 2020. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives will investigate how Roberts acquired the handgun seized during the arrest. Under federal law, it is illegal for individuals without legal immigration status to possess firearms and ammunition. Sam Olson, ICE ERO St. Paul Field Office Director, expressed astonishment at how Roberts was hired without proper documentation, calling it a situation that should alarm parents in the district. The district stated they had hired a third-party service to conduct a background check on Roberts, who had also provided an I-9 form that requires legal work authorization documents. They claimed to have had no knowledge of the removal order issued in 2024, and noted that the state board of educational examiners had issued Roberts a professional administrator license in 2023, which remains active. His annual salary was reported to be $270,000. Roberts' background includes problematic incidents in the past, such as pleadings in Pennsylvania for unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm. Following the arrest, the Des Moines Public Schools board moved swiftly to fill the vacancy left by Roberts, with Associate Superintendent Matt Smith assuming the interim role. Board Chair Jackie Norris stated they were unclear on the specifics of Roberts' detention initially. The arrest has prompted varied reactions from Iowa lawmakers. Democratic Representative Larry McBurney initially called the situation an outright disgrace but later deleted his comments, citing pressure from associates. In contrast, Republican U.S. Representative Zach Nunn supported the arrest, emphasizing the inappropriateness of placing someone with a prior weapons charge and an active deportation order in a crucial public trust position. Representative Ashley Hinson also backed this viewpoint, labeling Roberts as an illegal immigrant who should be deported immediately. The Directors Council, where Roberts served, expressed continued support for him despite the gravitas of the charges against him, referring to him as a respected leader in the Des Moines community. As this situation develops, it raises significant questions regarding background checks and legal employment processes within vulnerable sectors such as education. Amidst the various reactions from lawmakers, one central theme has emerged: the critical need for stringent checks to prevent such a scenario from occurring in the future. Des Moines Public Schools' handling of this situation will surely be scrutinized extensively by parents and officials alike. Schools must be political battlegrounds, but fairness and legal integrity in hiring practices should remain paramount.