The Des Moines school board placed Principal Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave after his detention by federal immigration agents, who claimed he was illegally in the U.S. Roberts was stopped while driving a school-issued vehicle, leading to his custody due to a final removal order from 2024. The school board expressed its lack of information about the situation, with President Jackie Norris stating that no one was aware of Roberts’ immigration status prior to the incident.
Norris emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and confirmed that a law firm is representing Roberts. Background checks conducted before his employment did not reveal any citizenship issues, and the Iowa Department of Education noted he was a U.S. citizen during his administrator license application. The department is reviewing employment procedures to ensure compliance with work authorization in the U.S.
Roberts, born in Guyana and an Olympic athlete, had previously served in law enforcement before moving to the U.S. His case has raised concerns among the school board and education authorities regarding immigration oversight and employment verification.
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