Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was arrested for immigration violations after it was discovered he had falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen. Hired in 2023, Roberts had a compelling background, including a career in urban education and Olympic participation. However, red flags regarding his past emerged, including a misstatement on his résumé and a history of legal issues. Despite these concerns, he led the district for two years, earning praise for academic improvements. His arrest by ICE agents revealed that he was not legally allowed to work in the U.S., raising questions about the vetting process used by the school district. Following his arrest, Roberts resigned, and the district faced criticism for its hiring practices and oversight failures.