After an illegal alien, Ian Andre Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa, was apprehended by ICE, Republicans revealed that he was a registered active Democrat voter in Maryland.
According to the Maryland State Board of Elections’ official website, Roberts, who overstayed a student visa in 1999, is an active voter and registered as a Democrat in Maryland. Columnist Dustin Grage first reported the development.
Republican state Delegate Matt Morgan, chair of the Maryland House Freedom Caucus, told Fox News Digital that Roberts’ registration means he is eligible to vote in all federal, state, and local elections despite not being a US citizen and likely not having lived in Maryland for the previous decade.
Morgan noted that Maryland law does not allow non-citizens to register to vote in federal or state elections, even if Roberts is still a lawful resident.
The House Freedom Caucus is now demanding answers from Maryland’s State Board of Elections on “gaping holes” in the state’s voting integrity systems.
In a letter written to the elections board on Monday, the Freedom Caucus also wanted answers as to why the board has been “obstructing a valid request by the Department of Justice to ensure compliance with federal election laws,” citing immigration enforcement as the primary issue.
Morgan cited a letter sent by the elections board to the Justice Department in August, in which State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis expressed concern that if the board turned over voter information to the federal government, the data would be “used for enforcement of immigration laws against Maryland residents.”
Morgan commented on the letter, asking, “If illegal aliens are not allowed to vote, why are they on the voter rolls in the first place?” And how would this improve immigration enforcement? I’m not sure, but that’s the justification they provided to the DOJ.”
“It’s ridiculous,” he continued, adding, “Everyone reasonable wants a safe and secure election.”
Prior to his detention by ICE, Roberts led the Des Moines Public Schools, the state’s largest school district, despite not being legally entitled to work in the United States after his employment authorization card expired in 2020, according to officials.
He was arrested on a fugitive warrant last week. ICE officials arrested Roberts after he attempted to leave and was discovered hiding in undergrowth. ICE reported that the car Roberts was driving included $3,000 in cash, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and a loaded Glock 19 pistol.
Roberts was also charged with unlawful firearms possession in 2020, and he received a final order of removal in 2024.
On Sunday, the state of Iowa suspended Roberts’ education license, prompting the Des Moines School Board to send him on unpaid leave.
“We were notified that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners had revoked Doctor Roberts’ license to practice as a superintendent in Iowa.” Doctor Roberts is not in accordance with his contract unless he has such a license, according to Jackie Norris, the school board chair.
Morgan believes that while Roberts’ case is perplexing, he may only represent a small portion of the illegal foreigners who are registered to vote in Maryland.
“We don’t know how prevalent this is. We hear rumors, but we have no knowledge,” he explained.
“This is uncharted territory,” he explained.