ICE arrest reveals alarming past of Iowa school leader involving drugs and guns

New information revealed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shows an illegal immigrant who was working as a school superintendant in Iowa has “a long record of criminal conduct in the United States.”

Ian Andre Robert, of Guyana, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on September 26. Ahead of his arrest, he was making nearly $300,000 and living and working in the U.S. illegally.

ICE also said he has four rejected green card applications and a 2024 final order of removal.

The former Des Moines Public Schools leader made his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge on Thursday after he was charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.

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,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Friday in a news release, also noting that Roberts was in possession of an illegal handgun, a hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash at the time of his arrest.

Under Secretary Noem, ICE will continue to arrest the worst of the worst and put the safety of America’s children FIRST,” she added.

DHS shared his rap sheet, as well as the dates of his arrests:

• 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.

According to Roberts’ LinkedIn profile, he went to Morgan State University from 2003 to 2007 and was an “incoming MBA candidate” at MIT Sloane School of Management.” Fox News said while Morgan State University confirmed he attended the school, he “did not receive a degree.”

The media outlet also said the MIT Registrar’s Office noted that it did not have any records that show “enrollment for a person with the name Ian Andre Roberts.”

Defending Education’s Director of Outreach Erika Sanzi described Roberts as a pathological liar, especially when it comes to his education and citizenship status. She said Iowa failed to complete a thorough investigation into his background before hiring him.

Iowa is on the hook now, too, because this is exposed — and we reported it in February, by the way — that Iowa has a state law that requires school districts to have affirmative action hiring plans in place, which are against the law,” Sanzi told The National News Desk during a one-on-one interview.

Roberts is currently in U.S. Marshals custody, according to DHS.