The shifty ICE arrests that have been happening in the news are enough to put us all on guard. From families being broken apart to completely disappearing without a trace, it makes sense that people are distrustful of ICE. Now, they took things one step further when they detained a beloved superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa. The details surrounding the incident have everybody raising their eyebrows, wondering if we’re getting the full story.
Tiara (@tiaramays_iowa) shared a TikTok explaining what took place this Friday morning. She said that Dr. Ian Roberts, a teacher and former Olympian, was detained by ICE agents. She said regarding the information being released, that she’s ‘calling b******t.‘ Tiara also said that ICE came forward and said that Dr. Roberts doesn’t have work authorization in the U.S. That already sounds strange because most school systems have a rigorous screening process. Without proper documentation, it would be pretty difficult for him to get hired in the first place.
Tiara goes on to say that Dr. Roberts was allegedly notified in May 2024 that he “needed to leave the United States.” ICE officers approached Roberts this morning, where he then got inside his vehicle and fled the scene. He then abandoned his vehicle in a forest area. When agents and the Iowa State Patrol searched the area, they found Dr. Roberts. They claim that he was in possession of a loaded handgun, a large amount of cash, and a hunting knife. According to a news article, he was detained because he had no legal immigration status and was in possession of a firearm and ammunition. ICE came forward since his detainment and said that he had a weapons charge back in 2020.
Tiara thinks that his detainment is unjust. She said that Dr. Roberts is one of the most prestigious superintendents in all of Iowa and appears on the news frequently. She said that he is not difficult to find due to his appearances at school board meetings. This makes her wonder why ICE acted like they had to hunt him down. Tiara said that there’s no way that he didn’t meet the legal requirements to work at this school district.
Commenters agree with Tiara that you can’t just “take ICE’s word.” As one person commented, “People need to open their eyes and understand what is really happening! They are trying to replace him with someone that will bend the knee!” Another person said, “If I was approached by ICE agents tying to detain and deport me, regardless of if I was innocent or not, I would have ran because I know what’s happening to the people they are detaining. I will never chastise anyone trying to elude them.” These are all great points. I’m sure the story will continue to unfold but we have to reserve judgment because there is no trust when it comes to ICE.
