IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A state agency revoked the professional license of the leader of Iowa’s largest school district on Monday, days after federal agents arrested him on accusations that he was living and working in the country illegally. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners said in a letter to Des Moines public schools Superintendent Ian Roberts that he was ineligible to hold a license because 'you no longer possess legal presence in the United States.' U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Roberts on Friday, saying he was subject to a final removal order that a judge issued in May 2024. Roberts is a native of Guyana who entered the United States on a student visa in 1999, according to ICE. He’s being held at an Iowa jail. ICE stated that Roberts fled after a traffic stop in Des Moines, and that he was apprehended with the assistance of the Iowa State Patrol. The agency disclosed that Roberts, 54, had a loaded handgun in his district-issued vehicle, a hunting knife, and $3,000 cash when arrested. Des Moines school officials said they knew nothing about Roberts being in the country illegally. They said he had signed a form verifying that he was a citizen when he was hired in 2023 and submitted a driver’s license and Social Security card to verify his eligibility. The school board voted 6-0 Monday evening to put Roberts on unpaid leave from his job, which has an annual salary of $286,716. His contract, extended through June 30, 2028, requires that he hold a state certification to serve as superintendent. Board chair Jackie Norris mentioned that the district received notice Monday afternoon from the Department of Homeland Security that Roberts was unauthorized to work in the country. Norris stated that the board would give Roberts’ attorney until noon on Tuesday to challenge these facts, and would otherwise move to fire him. Roberts’ attorney, Alfredo Parrish, did not respond to messages seeking comment. The district, which has over 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 employees, indicated that Roberts was identified as a candidate for the role by a search firm and that a 'comprehensive background check' was completed during the hiring process. The state board that granted Roberts a license to serve as superintendent affirmed that the process included background checks by the state police and FBI. The Iowa Department of Education noted it was the responsibility of the school district to verify employees’ eligibility to work and would look into the district’s practices. His arrest shocked the district, where he had been recognized for his engagement with the community and advocacy for students during his two-year tenure. They placed Roberts on paid leave after a brief special meeting Saturday, but ceased his pay on Monday after a closed session lasting about 90 minutes. Norris pointed out that students had connected with Roberts' enthusiasm in classrooms and were now scared and concerned. She urged critics to minimize 'the hateful rhetoric directed at our district.' ICE requested the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate how Roberts acquired a firearm, since individuals in the country illegally are not permitted to possess firearms. Roberts had previously been cited in 2021 in Pennsylvania for storing a loaded hunting rifle in his vehicle. ICE also alleged that he had a pending weapons charge from February 2020 without providing further details. U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn of the Des Moines area wrote to ICE requesting records about the case, expressing alarm over the circumstances of the arrest and the importance of a clear timeline regarding the actions taken against this senior public official.