02/05/2026
An illegal immigrant named Ian Andre Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, was found to be an active registered Democratic voter in Maryland after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in late 2025.
Details of the Case
Background: Roberts, a native of Guyana, came to the U.S. on a student visa in 1994, which federal authorities claim expired long ago. He held several high-level education positions, including a principal in Baltimore and the superintendent in Iowa, despite his undocumented status.
Voter Registration: Records show Roberts registered to vote in Prince George's County, Maryland, in both 2011 and 2016. On his application, which has since been released to the public under legal pressure from watchdog groups, he signed under penalty of perjury, affirming his eligibility to vote as a U.S. citizen.
Voting Record: Maryland election officials have stated that while Roberts was registered as an active voter, he never actually cast a ballot in any Maryland election.
Arrest and Charges: Roberts was arrested by ICE in Iowa in September 2025. At the time of his arrest, he was found to be in possession of $3,000 in cash, a G***k 9 mm pistol, and a hunting knife. He faces federal charges related to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
Political Response: The discovery led to calls from Republican lawmakers in Maryland for a review of the state's voter rolls and raised concerns about election integrity and the automatic voter registration processes linked to services like the MVA (Motor Vehicle Administration). The state board of elections maintains that voters are only removed upon their request or when legally verifiable information is received, and that the system does not have proactive protocols to prevent non-citizens from registering if they claim to be a citizen.
The incident has fueled the ongoing national debate surrounding non-citizen voting and the security of voter registration system