Des Moines superintendent to resign after being detained by ICE, lawyer says

"Ian Roberts, 54, announced his immediate resignation as superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools in a letter released through his attorney on Tuesday. "Out of concern for his 30,000 students, Dr. Roberts does not want to distract the Board, educators, and staff from focusing on educating DMPS's students," the letter to the Des Moines School Board stated. The letter will be sent to the board on Tuesday, according to Roberts' attorney, Alfredo Parrish."

"Roberts was detained on Friday, with ICE saying he is in the country illegally from Guyana and was working as a superintendent despite having "a final order of removal and no work authorization." On Monday, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners said it revoked Roberts' administrator license. The Des Moines School Board voted unanimously Monday evening to put him on unpaid administrative leave and gave his attorney until noon Tuesday to provide proof that he is authorized to work in the U.S. or face termination."

"Parrish said his office on Monday filed a motion in immigration court in Omaha, Nebraska, to stay the educator's order of removal. "This is a very complex case," Parrish said during a press briefing on Tuesday. "It's complex, it's difficult and there are a lot of what I would call a myriad of issues that are involved." "What I would do is encourage people, as they review this case, to be patient, to take it a step at a time," he added."

Ian Roberts, 54, resigned immediately as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. He was detained by ICE, which said he is in the country illegally from Guyana and had been working despite a final order of removal and no work authorization. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked his administrator license. The Des Moines School Board placed him on unpaid administrative leave and required proof of work authorization by a set deadline or face termination. Attorney Alfredo Parrish said his office filed a motion in immigration court in Omaha to stay the order of removal, described the case as complex, and urged patience. Parrish shared a March letter from a previous Texas attorney stating the immigration case "has reached a successful resolution," though that letter offered no further details.

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