(NewsNation) — An Iowa school board has voted unanimously to put the superintendent of the state’s largest school district on leave after he was detained by ICE.
Dr. Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was taken into ICE custody on Friday, which led to protests from community members later that day. The Department of Homeland Security has maintained that Roberts was in the U.S. illegally, and had illegal weapons charges against him.
The school board met Saturday to make the decision to put Roberts on paid, administrative leave in a 7-0 vote.
“No one here was aware of any citizenship or immigration issues that Dr. Roberts may have been facing,” Des Moines Public Schools president Jackie Norris said in a statement. “The accusations ICE has made against Dr. Roberts is very serious. And we are taking them very seriously.”
During a news conference Friday, interim superintendent Matt Smith said the board is “devastated” by Roberts’ detainment, but will not stop being of service to the schools and the community during this time.
DHS said in a statement that at the time of Roberts’ arrest, he fled from ICE agents and was taken into custody with a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash and a knife. The agency said he is in the country illegally from Guyana and had no work authorization to be here. Roberts was also reportedly ordered a final removal order.
Court records show Roberts pleaded guilty to a firearms charge in Pennsylvania, and according to the New York Times, his attorney agreed with the school board’s decision to place Roberts on paid leave, noting they are still trying to get all the facts straight. Together, district officials say they’re focused on keeping the schools in the district running smoothly while the community asks for answers.