The Des Moines (Iowa) school superintendent who’s been detained by immigration authorities has resigned.
The Associated Press reports that Ian Roberts submitted a letter to the district through his attorney announcing his immediate resignation, saying he did not want to distract the district’s leaders and teachers from focusing on educating students.
An attorney for Roberts the former superintendent had been under the impression from a prior attorney that his immigration case was “resolved successfully." Roberts has filed a request for a stay of deportation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Roberts last week, saying the Guyana native was living and working in the country illegally. A board in Iowas has stripped Roberts’ license to be superintendent.
Roberts, 54, has been held since his arrest at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, Iowa, about 150 miles northwest of Des Moines.
The office of U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, who represents the Des Moines area, released a redacted excerpt of Roberts’ May 2024 removal order. The document alleges that Roberts was provided notice to appear at a removal hearing but failed to show up or otherwise apply for any other relief.
An immigration judge found that the Department of Homeland Security had submitted evidence to support its allegations that Roberts was subject to removal. The judge ordered Roberts to make arrangements to voluntarily leave the U.S. or face deportation.
