Background on Ian Roberts
Ian Andre Roberts, the former superintendent of schools in Des Moines, Iowa, is under investigation for allegedly claiming U.S. citizenship while registering to vote in Maryland, despite being in the country illegally.
Documents reveal that Mr. Roberts marked “Yes” on the citizenship question during his 2011 voter registration and again in an electronic application five years later. These findings were disclosed by the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF).
According to Homeland Security, Mr. Roberts has never held legal citizenship status, rendering him ineligible to participate in federal elections.
The case underscores significant flaws within some states’ voter registration systems that depend on individuals to accurately report their citizenship status. Logan Churchwell, PILF’s research director, criticized Maryland for not utilizing the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program to verify Mr. Roberts’ status.
Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis did not comment on these new revelations or PILF’s suggestion regarding the SAVE system. Previously, he expressed hesitance about removing names from voter rolls due to concerns about disenfranchising legitimate voters.
Mr. Roberts is currently facing federal charges for providing false information regarding his legal status on an I-9 work authorization form and also faces a gun charge. He was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who discovered firearms in his possession.
The Des Moines school officials have indicated that Mr. Roberts misrepresented his educational background and failed to disclose a prior criminal conviction when applying for his position.
Records indicate that Mr. Roberts registered to vote twice in Maryland but was moved to inactive status in 2016 due to inactivity before being reinstated as an active voter shortly thereafter.
Maryland officials have warned against assuming that the Ian Roberts listed on voting rolls is indeed the same individual identified by Homeland Security as an illegal immigrant; however, PILF claims it has confirmed this through data-matching techniques.
Mr. Roberts entered the U.S. legally twice but has faced multiple denials for permanent residency applications since his last visa expired in 2004. An immigration judge ordered his deportation earlier this year.
In recent statements made via LinkedIn, Mr. Roberts described the scrutiny he faces as a “storm,” suggesting that challenges can lead to opportunities for growth and rebuilding.
