Dr. Ian Roberts is not a criminal. He’s an educator, a role model, and the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools. And now, without warning or explanation, he’s been detained by ICE.

It’s hard to put into words how disturbing this is. Dr. Roberts leads the largest school district in Iowa, serving more than 30,000 students, supporting hundreds of teachers, and shaping the future of our kids. He’s an immigrant, a former Olympian, and someone who’s dedicated his life to public education.

This is not who ICE should be targeting.

What’s happening here doesn’t make sense. If ICE is supposed to focus on serious threats to public safety, why are they detaining a school superintendent? Why go after someone with no record, no wrongdoing, and no history of harm—just decades of service to students and families?

It sends a chilling message: that no matter how much you contribute, no matter how respected you are, you can still be taken. That leadership and service don’t protect you from a broken immigration system.

This isn’t just about one man. It’s about what kind of community we are. Do we stand by while federal agents remove a trusted leader without cause? Or do we raise our voices and demand answers?

ICE must release Dr. Roberts immediately. We deserve transparency. He deserves to come home. And our elected officials, from local leaders to Iowa’s congressional delegation, need to speak out now. Because staying silent in moments like this only lets injustice grow.

Our educators belong in classrooms, not jail cells. Our kids need stability, not fear. Dr. Roberts deserves better.

Join me in demanding his release.

Photo Credit: WOI Local 5 News