Des Moines superintendent arrested as ‘criminal illegal alien,’ DHS says, but had several priors

The Department of Homeland Security has released new details about criminal illegal alien Ian Andre Roberts, who was serving as superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools at the time of his Sept. 26 arrest.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Roberts was confronted by federal officers in Iowa’s capital city when he sped away, abandoned his vehicle, and hid in a brushy area about 660 feetaway. With help from the Iowa State Patrol, officers located and arrested him. A loaded handgun, a hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash were found in his vehicle.

On Oct. 2, Roberts was charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms and transferred to US Marshals custody.

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin condemned the former superintendent’s employment in the state’s largest school district.

“Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien with multiple weapons charges and a drug trafficking charge, should have never been able to work around children,” McLaughlin said. “When ICE officers arrested this Superintendent, he was in possession of an illegal handgun, a hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash. This criminal illegal alien is now in U.S. Marshals custody and facing charges for being an illegal alien in possession of firearms. Under Secretary Noem, ICE will continue to arrest the worst of the worst and put the safety of America’s children FIRST.”

DHS released a detailed record of Roberts’ criminal history and immigration background, showing decades of unlawful conduct and multiple denials of legal residency:

Criminal Record

• July 3, 1996: Charges for criminal possession of narcotics with intent to sell, criminal possession of narcotics, criminal possession of a forgery instrument and possession of a forged instrument in New York.
• Nov. 13, 1998: A charge for third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle in Queens, New York, which was dismissed July 6, 1999.
• Nov. 1, 2012: A conviction for reckless driving, unsafe operation and speeding in Maryland.
• Feb. 3, 2020: Charges for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (having a loaded firearm outside his home or business); third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (an ammunition feeding device); and fourth-degree weapon charges. A document from Feb. 4, 2020, indicates that the second-degree criminal possession charge was inchoate.
• Jan. 20, 2022: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania convicted Roberts of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.
• Sept. 26, 2025: Roberts was arrested with a Glock 9mm pistol and a fixed-blade hunting knife in his possession. He also had $3,000 in cash.
• Oct. 2, 2025: Roberts criminally charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.

Immigration History

• June 1, 1994: Roberts entered the United States at John F. Kennedy International Airport on a B-2 nonimmigrant visa; he was classified as a visitor for pleasure. He departed the US on an unknown date but returned before his 1996 arrest for narcotics possession.
• March 8, 1999: He entered the US through California’s San Francisco International Airport as an F-1 student visa holder. The visa was set to expire March 7, 2004. He departed the U.S. on an unknown date.
• June 28, 1999: Roberts reentered the US through San Francisco on the same F-1 student visa. He departed the US on an unknown date.
• Aug. 30, 1999: He again reentered the US at JFK International Airport on the same student visa.
• Feb. 9, 2000: Roberts filed an application for employment authorization, which US Citizenship and Immigration Services approved April 5, 2000, with an expiration date of April 1, 2001.
• Sept. 4, 2000: He left the US from JFK International Airport.
• Sept. 30, 2000: Roberts entered the US again at JFK International Airport on the same F-1 student visa.
• May 21, 2001: He filed a green card application with USCIS, which the agency rejected Jan. 3, 2003.
• May 15, 2018: Roberts filed another green card application with USCIS, which the agency again rejected on May 30 that year.
• June 4, 2018: Roberts filed another green card application, which USCIS rejected for the third time June 20 that year.
• July 15, 2018: He filed for employment authorization documents, which USCIS granted on Dec. 18 that year, giving the documents an expiration date of Dec. 18, 2019.
• July 16, 2018: Roberts filed, for the fourth time, a green card application. USCIS denied it Jan. 24, 2020.
• Nov. 18, 2019: He filed another application for employment authorization documents, which USCIS approved Dec. 3 of that year and issued an expiration date of Dec. 18, 2020.
• Feb. 11, 2020: Roberts updated his address with USCIS.
• Oct. 2, 2020: USCIS issued him a notice to appear before an immigration judge.
• May 22, 2024: An immigration judge in Dallas, Texas, ordered Roberts removed in absentia.
• April 24, 2025: An immigration judge in Dallas denied Roberts’ motion to reopen his case.
• Sept. 26, 2025: ICE officials arrested Roberts in Des Moines, Iowa.

Roberts remains in U.S. Marshals custody and will face federal prosecution for his latest offenses.