(Radio Iowa) – Immigration agents detained the superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district this (Friday) morning in Des Moines and federal authorities say he is being held a western Iowa jail. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says in May of last year an immigration judge had ordered that Des Moines superintendent Ian Roberts be removed from the country. Federal officials say Roberts entered the U-S from Guyana in 1999 on a student visa, was not authorized to work in the U-S, and had been charged will illegally possessing weapons in 2020. Records indicate Roberts had a loaded handgun, three-thousand dollars cash and a hunting knife when he was arrested. Three officials with the Des Moines school district spoke to the media this (Friday) afternoon, but did not take questions. Jackie Norris, chair of the school board, says Roberts had been an educator in other states for 20 years when he got a state license to lead the Des Moines district in July of 2023.

Norris praised the superintendent’s work in the district and did not directly address the information released by the U-S Department of Homeland Security.

Norris began her brief remarks by quoting Roberts

Matt Smith, appointed interim superintendent Friday, said Roberts’ arrest will not stop the district’s important work with and for students.

Smith quoted Roberts at the end of his prepared remarks.

Des Moines School district spokesman Phil Roederer told reporters the district is dealing with a legally complex and developing situation. A spokesperson for Governor Kim Reynolds said the governor is aware Roberts was taken into custody and is in contact with state and federal authorities. According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Roberts was arrested after fleeing ICE agents who initiated a traffic stop.