The Justice Department opened an investigation into Iowa’s largest public school district hours after Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained its superintendent.
ICE officers detained Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, on Monday, alleging he was living and working in the country illegally. He has lost his state license and has been placed on unpaid leave. On Tuesday afternoon, he resigned from his position.
The DOJ sent a letter to the system’s interim superintendent, Matthew Smith, informing him of the investigation into the district’s alleged diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon is informing the district of the Title VII inquiry, and acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric Sell will lead it.
“Our investigation is based on information that DMPS may be engaged in employment
practices that discriminate against employees, job applicants, and training program participants
based on race, color, and national origin in violation of Title VII,” Dhillon wrote.
The DOJ alleged that DMPS set diversity quotas and championed diversity in the school system.
“Diversity enriches the climate and strengthens the effectiveness of our schools… We believe it is in the best interests of our school district to develop an employee culture reflective of the greater society,” Dhillon quoted the school as stating.
She also said the school’s 2021 Affirmative Action Plan included “race-and-color-based teacher recruitment goals.” DMPS also had a “3D Coalition Project” that assisted minority teachers with the education needed to teach in the system. Those who participated in the program would receive an interview.
Dhillon emphasized the DOJ has not “reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation” but is considering relevant information.
Dhillon condemned DEI and race-based hiring in a statement shared with the Washington Examiner.
“DEI initiatives and race-based hiring preferences in our schools violate federal anti-discrimination laws and undermine educational priorities,” she said. “School districts must cease these unlawful programs and restore merit-based employment practices for the benefit of both students and employees.”
It’s unclear if the detainment of Roberts is related to the investigation into the schools’ DEI practices.
Roberts, who is from Guyana, is expected to be deported. He’s being held in an Iowa jail as he awaits immigration proceedings. His lawyer, Alfredo Parrish, told the New York Times that Roberts is resigning so as not to distract the school district.
“Out of concern for his 30,000 students, Dr. Roberts does not want to distract the board, educators and staff from focusing on educating D.M.P.S.’s students,” he said.
The Trump administration has targeted school systems with DEI programs throughout the country.
The Education Department pulled millions in grants from school districts in Virginia, New York, and Illinois after the states were accused of violating civil rights law with DEI programs.
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Julie Hartman, a spokeswoman for the Education Department, told the New York Times that the department would not “rubber-stamp civil rights compliance” for the districts “while they blatantly discriminate against students based on race and sex.”
“These are public schools, funded by hardworking American families, and parents have every right to expect an excellent education — not ideological indoctrination masquerading as inclusive policy,” she added.
