The attorney representing Ian Andre Roberts, who was arrested by federal immigration authorities last week, announced at a press conference on Tuesday that his client would resign from his position as superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools, following the Iowa Board of Education’s revocation of his license and demand for his resignation.
Attorney Alfredo Parrish confirmed Roberts’ intention to resign on Tuesday, stating that the citizen of Guyana gave the lawyer permission to share a letter announcing the resignation.
“We will today be sending a letter to the Des Moines School Board, authorized by Dr. Roberts, to resign his position as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools,” said Parrish. “That letter is going to go out. It’s been authorized, not yet sent.”
The letter later surfaced on social media after Parrish distributed copies to the media members in attendance.
On behalf of his client, Parrish wrote that Roberts had immediately resigned, “Out of concern for his 30,000 students.”
The attorney wrote, “Dr. Roberts does not want to distract the Board, educators, and staff from focusing on DPMS’s students.”
BREAKING: The lead attorney for DMPS Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts says he authorized them to submit a letter of resignation to the Des Moines School Board.
From the letter: “Dr. Roberts does not want to distract the Board, educators, and staff from focusing on educating DMPS’s… pic.twitter.com/06Yb9wHIJL
— Meghan MacPherson (@meghankmac) September 30, 2025
Parrish declined to provide answers to multiple questions from the press, but did confirm that he submitted a motion to stay Roberts’ deportation on Monday, and that a future motion to reopen his immigration case would be forthcoming.
Asked by a reporter about the claim that Roberts identified himself as a citizen of the United States in his application to the school board, and whether he obtained a Social Security number, Parrish said he chose not to answer.
“Both of those things I’m able to respond to, but I don’t want to at this point,” said the attorney. “As you may know, certain people coming into this country are entitled to get a Social Security number. We thoroughly checked that out.”
Parrish similarly declined to answer a question about law enforcement’s statement that Roberts was in possession of a loaded gun in a school district vehicle when approached by federal immigration authorities.
“I cannot respond,” said Parrish. “Some of the facts I know only from my client. But I will tell you: he was in the military in Guyana. He led raids on the biggest criminals. He was targeted at times. Later, he was transferred to the police and did dangerous work in Guyana and South America.”
The Tennessee Star contacted the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), the military of Guyana, to confirm that Roberts served in the capacity described by Parrish, but did not receive an immediate response.
Parrish also volunteered that Roberts received his Doctorate of Education from Trident International University, a for-profit online university based in Arizona.
The lawyer confirmed Roberts’ educational background, as the Des Moines Register reported that Morgan State University confirmed it had never granted the Guyanese man a doctorate, despite confirming that he had previously attended the Maryland university. Roberts reportedly claimed he earned the degree from the school.
Maryland Freedom Caucus Chairman and State Delegate Matt Morgan (R-St. Mary’s County) recently confirmed that Roberts is registered to vote as a Democrat in Maryland, where he maintains an active voter registration, despite not being a citizen and having not lived in the state for years.
Watch the full press conference:
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ian Roberts” by Des Moines Public Schools Foundation.
What a travesty. The guy came here on a student visa in 1999. What is he doing here now?!!
The feds MUST put into effect safeguards that will stop the prevalent overstaying of student visas.