If you missed the news, let me tell you what we’re witnessing in Des Moines, Iowa — a scandal that exposes not just a hiring failure, but a collapsing of priorities in our public institutions. Ian Andre Roberts, illegally in this the U.S. for nearly 30 years, was appointed superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in 2023 based upon a falsified résumé. The Department of Homeland Security has now confirmed what many suspected: Roberts was in the U.S. illegally, had a final deportation order as of May 2024, and yet still held executive power in Iowa’s largest school district. In September of this year, ICE arrested him in possession of a loaded handgun, a hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash, after he abandoned a school-issued vehicle and tried to flee.
That’s not all. Roberts’ criminal history dates back decades: narcotics charges, forgery instruments, weapons offenses, unauthorized use of vehicles — the list goes on. How did he pass background checks? Why did no one question these glaring red flags? The district is now suing the firm that vetted him. This is not a mere administrative lapse. It’s an indictment of a culture that prioritizes identity or ideology over competency and legal obedience. The Left rushed to defend Roberts — painting him as a victim of systemic bias. But facts don’t care about narratives. An illegal alien with felonies and firearms showed up running schools. That’s not a “mistake” — it’s a failure of purpose.
If someone like Roberts could rise to the top of a school district, what message does that send to anyone who cares about excellence, safety, or the rule of law?
To those who demand accountability, here’s your opening! Now is the time to begin vetting your own school board members and administrators. Every spring, we lament the lack of participation in our school board and other local elections — so let’s make this a catalyst! Check in now on your school board. Refuse to normalize this open flouting of our immigration laws and our kids’ safety! Let this controversy be a rallying cry: we must reassert that sovereignty, citizenship, and legal order matter in every appointment, especially at the local level. If we do not stop rewarding these radical breaks with law, we will lose not just credibility—but the very foundations of civil society.
If you want to know how to get involved in your school district, visit PhyllisSchlafly.com and contact us! There are so many great resources there at PhyllisSchlafly.com. Thanks for listening and join us next time for the Phyllis Schlafly Report.
This post originally appeared at https://phyllisschlafly.com/family/education/illegal-alien-running-iowas-largest-school-district/
Phyllis Schlafly