Morning Wire – “Illegal Iowa Superintendent Exposed”

Date: October 4, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Guests: Amanda Presto Giacomo (Daily Wire reporter), Laura Powell (civil liberties attorney)
Main Theme:
This episode investigates a major public school scandal in Iowa involving Ian Andre Roberts, an illegal immigrant who served as superintendent for the Des Moines Public Schools despite a deportation order and a criminal history. The hosts and guests examine how Roberts evaded standard background checks, the possible systemic failures that enabled him, and wider implications for hiring practices and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives in education.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Arrest and Scandal Unfolds

• [00:30] Amanda Presto Giacomo reports that 51-year-old Ian Andre Roberts, originally from Guyana, was arrested by ICE on September 26th in a targeted operation.
  • Roberts was illegally in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a hunting knife at the time of arrest.
• Roberts had a deportation order dating to May 2024 and a prior weapons charge from 2020.
• The most shocking detail: Roberts was serving as superintendent (the CEO) of Des Moines Public Schools, the largest school district in Iowa, with over 30,000 students.

2. Roberts’s Background and Resume Discrepancies

• [02:08] Roberts entered the US on a student visa in 1999 and overstayed. His attempts to obtain immigration status were unsuccessful.
• Roberts falsely claimed US citizenship; he was never naturalized.
• Notably, he misrepresented academic credentials—he only obtained a doctorate from an online school in 2021 but had been calling himself “Dr.” for nearly a decade.
  • Memorable quote:
    • Laura Powell ([02:55]):

      "He was calling himself doctor at least as early as 2012, but he didn't get his doctorate until 2021, so he pretended he had one from Morgan State."

• Despite this record, Roberts held leadership roles for 20 years—including superintendent roles in Iowa and Pennsylvania.

3. How Did This Happen? Systemic Failures & DEI

• [03:50] The panel discusses how Roberts escaped scrutiny in a supposedly rigorous system.
  • Laura Powell ([04:07]):

    "The numerous background checks he's gone through somehow missed all of these major red flags...it's kind of absurd on its face that nobody noticed he had a foreign accent when he claimed to be born and raised in Brooklyn. Nobody seemed to have asked more questions."

• Powell links this failure to two elements:
  • Roberts’s own deception.
  • An “obsession” with DEI leading to insufficient scrutiny:
    • Laura Powell ([04:54]):

      "People wanted...more diversity in their staff. I think they were very happy to have a black man who seemed to be perfect, come in and they didn't want to ask questions...we're taught it's a microaggression to ask people questions like where are you from if the person has an accent...I think people were hesitant to question him too hard."

4. DOJ Investigation and Political Ramifications

• [05:38] DOJ’s Civil Rights Division launches an investigation into Des Moines Public Schools, focusing on possible illegal race-based hiring practices highlighted on the district’s website.
• DOJ flags district policies setting demographic hiring goals and prioritizing “voices of people of color.”
• Harmeet Dhillon (DOJ's Deputy AG for Civil Rights) signals more investigations into districts ignoring immigration laws.

5. School District Response & Accountability

• The school board chair, Jackie Norris, reveals Roberts submitted forms claiming citizenship and provided a driver’s license and Social Security number.
  • Jackie Norris ([06:59]):

    "The individual who was leading our district with energy and enthusiasm was detained by ICE agents. Since that time, this district, the Iowa Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security and others have learned that his citizenship and status and eligibility to work in the U.S. is not what we were led to believe."

  • Norris expresses disappointment and the need for answers.
• The district’s communications director, Phil Roeder, claims a background check was done by a third party (Baker Eubanks). The firm flagged Roberts’s criminal history, but the district proceeded with the hire.
• Critically, the school never used E-Verify, the federal system for confirming employment eligibility.

6.Policy Implications & Calls for Reform

• [08:32] Amanda reports that Iowa law does not currently mandate the use of E-Verify, though legislation is pending.
• Immigration enforcement veteran Scott Makowski calls the hiring of Roberts “a betrayal of public trust,” urging E-Verify be made mandatory nationwide.
  • Makowski ([08:32], quoted by Amanda):

    "The hiring of an undocumented individual with a criminal history and a deportation order into a position of educational leadership exposes a profound vulnerability in our systems...It demands immediate reform to safeguard our institutions and communities." "How many more are out there? Pass E-VERIFY immediately."

• The hosts note increased public pressure for background check reforms, especially following previous immigration-related scandals.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Laura Powell ([02:55]):

  "He was calling himself doctor at least as early as 2012, but he didn't get his doctorate until 2021, so he pretended he had one from Morgan State."

• Laura Powell ([04:07]):

  "Nobody seemed to have asked more questions."

• Laura Powell ([04:54]):

  "This trend in our education system of DEI...they didn't want to ask questions. And...we're taught it's a microaggression to ask people where you're from if the person has an accent."

• Jackie Norris ([06:59]):

  "This is not what we anticipated when we welcomed Dr. Ian Roberts...It is a sad and troubling end for an individual who gave many people, especially our students, hope."

• Scott Makowski ([08:32], via Amanda):

  "This is not merely an oversight, but it's a betrayal of public trust. It demands immediate reform..."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:30] – Introduction of the Roberts case and his arrest
• [01:12] – Details about Roberts’s background, criminal history, and school leadership role
• [02:08] – Immigration status and fraudulent credentials
• [03:50] – How Roberts evaded detection and background checks
• [04:54] – DEI’s possible role in reducing scrutiny
• [05:38] – DOJ investigation into district’s hiring practices
• [06:59] – Jackie Norris’s official response
• [07:46] – Lack of E-Verify use and background check failures
• [08:32] – Pending legislation and policy commentary
• [09:40] – Closing remarks and outlook

Overall Tone

The episode is investigative and critical, focusing on systemic flaws and failures in hiring/accountability in public education, with a strong emphasis on the perceived dangers of prioritizing DEI over legal and procedural safeguards. The tone is urgent, skeptical, and conveys concern for institutional integrity.

Useful for:
Anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the Ian Roberts Iowa superintendent scandal—its facts, causes, and implications for public policy and education hiring nationwide. This summary outlines the key facts, context, and ongoing debate for those who haven’t listened to the episode.