Iowa’s Topschool -Superintendent held by ICE

On September 26, immigration – Douane and Enforcement (ICE) agents have former Olympic and Guyanese immigrant Dr. Ian Roberts held, who became the first black person in 2023 to supervise the largest school district in Iowa when he was appointed as the chief inspector of des Moines Public Schools.

According to The guardianThe Department of Homeland Security claims that Roberts was arrested Due to the existence of “a definitive order of removal and no work authorization.”

According to their declaration to the outlet, their justification for the arrest is as follows: “During a targeted enforcement operation on September 26, 2025, officers approached Roberts in his vehicle after he had identified himself, but he rushed away. Officers later discovered his vehicle near a wooded area in the United States of the United States of the United States of the United States. United States.

When The des moines register Reports, The arrest sent shock waves by the local communityembodied by school chairman Jackie Norris’ comments at a news conference.

“We don’t have all the facts. There is much that we don’t know,” she said during the press conference. “What we do know is that Dr. Roberts has been an integral part of our school community since two years ago.”

According to Norris, Associate Superintendent Matt Smith will serve as an interim superintendent until further order, Smith previously served as an interim -superintendent before Roberts was appointed in his position in June 2023.

In the meantime, the school district said in a statement to the outlet that “Ice is not formally informed of this issue, nor have we been able to talk to Dr. Roberts since his detention.”

For ice enforcement and removal operations St. Paul Field Office director Sam Olson, “This should be a wake-up call for our communities for the great work that our officers do every day to remove their threats from public safety. How this illegal alien was adopted without a work authorization, a last order of the alteration, and an earlier weapons” must be compounded and a previous weapons. “

However, the only thing that has collected the arrest of Roberts, a former mid-distance runner for his home country of Guyana during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, is, however, protests and alarm from community groups and members that a familiar member of the community was arrested by ice about what resembles dubious circumstances.

According to a statement from the Director Council, an umbrella group of different non -profit organizations aimed at the Black Community of Des Moines, posted on Facebook, Roberts ‘a valued member of our council’, whose detention currently has no context and clarification.

The organization continued: “Dr. Roberts has been a trusted partner, a devoted advocate for fairness and a relentless supporter of families and young people in Polk County. His contributions to both the Directors Council and the broader community are immeasurable, and we are with him at this uncertain moment.”

Alison Hoeman, founder of a local non -profit, des Moines Refugees Support, indicated that her phone has been blown up with phone calls and text messages that support Roberts, and she indicated that she is aware that students have asked about Roberts with concern: “” Nothing will happen to Dr. Roberts, right? “”

She continued: “You know that it is the black and brown children who are worried. If it is Ian Roberts who is in trouble, what does that mean for them?”

Mazie Stilwell, executive director of the Liberal Group Progress Iowa, indicated that ‘answers and appropriate action’ are needed from the chosen Iowa officials in the light of deep uncertainty about Roberts’ arrest.

Stilwell, the parent of a student who is registered for DPMS, continued: “No Iowan is safe. We live under a fascist regime because Nunn, Miller-Meks, Hinson and every member of the congress in Lockstep has been with the Maga-Government that is not for political power to use.”

Against the point of Stilwell, the Republicans in Iowa, including the American Rep. Zach Nunn, whose district includes the DMPs, are publicly supported for the arrest of Roberts, while Democrats, such as Iowa Rep. Larry McBurney (D-des Moines), indicated on social media that he was ‘furious’ about Robert’s arrest.

“This is not only unacceptable, it is an outright shame,” he said in a statement. “Our schools should never be treated as political fighters for federal over -range.”

Rep. McBurney continued: “I keep the delegation of President Trump and Iowa – Congressman Zach Nunn, Senator Chuck Grassley and Senator Joni Ernst – directly responsible for this action. Their silence or complicity will not go unnoticed. If they have some leadership, they must intervene immediately.”

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