By Shari Rendall
FAIR
On October 8, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order requiring each state agency in the executive branch and the Board of Regents to use E-Verify to ensure all new employees are authorized to work in the United States. The order also compels state agencies to use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program to confirm citizenship and immigration status prior to granting an individual a state-issued occupational or professional license.
The impetus for the executive order stems from the September 26 arrest of Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, an illegal alien from Guyana. According to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) statement, Roberts’ September 26 arrest was a result of targeted immigration enforcement. ICE officers approached Roberts’ vehicle and after identifying himself, Roberts fled the scene. He was later arrested after officers found his abandoned car with a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed blade hunting knife.
This wasn’t the first brush with authorities for Roberts. In fact, he has a long record of criminal activity in the U.S. In 1996, Roberts was charged with possession of narcotics with the intent to sell. He was charged in 1998 with third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, which was later dismissed. In 2012, Roberts was convicted of reckless driving. He faced multiple weapons charges in 2020, including criminal possession of a weapon. Just two years later, in 2022, Roberts was convicted of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm.
In addition to his criminal background which should have precluded the Des Moines Public Schools board from hiring Roberts, it appears that he falsified records pertaining to his eligibility to work in the U.S. According to the Des Moines Register, Roberts claimed he was a U.S. citizen on the I-9 form which is required to confirm that an individual is authorized to work in the country. Phil Roeder, a district spokesperson, stated that Roberts provided a driver’s license and social security card.
At the behest of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared that, based on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Roberts should not have had any valid work authorization documentation. While he previously did have work authorization, that authorization expired in December 2020. Moreover, according to DHS, “if an E-Verify case had been created using an expired Employment Authorization Document (EAD), it would have resulted in a non-confirmation.”
Considering the information released subsequent to Roberts’ arrest, Governor Reynolds signed the executive order requiring state government departments to use E-Verify. Upon signing the order she said: “While it’s the responsibility of employers to ensure those they hire are eligible to work in the United States, in light of recent events with the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, I am issuing Executive Order 15, putting safeguards in place that will verify the legal immigration or citizenship status for anyone requesting a state-issued professional license before they provide services for Iowans or are entrusted with the health, safety or education of our communities … Additionally, as an employer, the state takes seriously its responsibility to verify work eligibility. While some agencies voluntarily use E-Verify as part of the hiring process, my executive action now makes it a requirement.”
This is not the first time a criminal alien has prompted the consideration of mandating E-Verify in the state. The tragic death of Mollie Tibbetts at the hand of an illegal alien who had been working at an Iowa farm for years highlighted the need for E-Verify in Iowa. Since Mollie’s murder, E-Verify has been introduced each session but has failed to get all the way through the process.
Already, legislators have renewed the push for E-Verify for the next legislative session. In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh said that the Roberts’ situation “highlighted the need for policies at the state level to combat illegal immigration” and that E-Verify “will continue to be a topic of conversation” for the 2026 legislative session.
State Senator Julian Garrett, who sponsored the E-Verify bill that passed the Senate in 2024, says he will reintroduce a bill to require E-Verify for all employers. He believes that the Roberts’ situation could shift the momentum in the House “after years of reluctance.”
While there will be lots of discussion surrounding E-Verify, some obstacles remain to getting a bill through both legislative chambers in 2026. FAIR will seize the momentum to push for E-Verify legislation.