Maryland’s voter registration system is facing renewed scrutiny after House Republicans learned that Ian Andre Roberts — an illegal immigrant and former superintendent of the Des Moines, Iowa, public school system — was registered to vote in Maryland despite lacking U.S. citizenship, as reported by Fox News.
Roberts, originally from Guyana, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September and later found to have a lengthy criminal history dating back to the 1990s.
House Committee on House Administration Chair Bryan Steil of Wisconsin and Vice Chair Laurel Lee of Florida sent a letter Thursday to Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis, demanding answers about how Roberts became registered.
A Maryland election board has released unredacted voter registration records showing that #IanRoberts falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen.
Roberts, originally from #Guyana, previously served as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools of Iowa’s largest school district.
He… pic.twitter.com/3mIdOY23IW
— Front Page (@FrontPageScott) December 2, 2025
The committee, which has oversight authority regarding federal election law, outlined 10 specific inquiries related to Maryland’s voter-roll vetting procedures and the prevalence of noncitizens appearing on the rolls.
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
“The Committee is concerned about the integrity and accuracy of Maryland’s citizenship verification processes, and therefore the state’s voter rolls,” Steil and Lee wrote.
Among their questions: “Is Roberts still a registered voter in Maryland?“
“Has Mr. Roberts ever voted in Maryland? If yes, what election(s) did he participate in?” and “How does the State Board of Elections fulfill their obligations under 52 U.S.C. §20507 to conduct a general program to remove ineligible voters from the rolls?”
Roberts worked for Baltimore City Schools from 2001 to 2010 in several positions, including teacher and principal.
Despite leaving Maryland more than a decade ago, he remained registered to vote in the state. It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal or state elections.
Public revelations about his voter registration intensified in November, when a Maryland county board of elections released heavily redacted voter documents that concealed how Roberts answered the citizenship question — prompting challenges from conservative groups.
Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (RITE) pressed for full disclosure, and the county later released unredacted documents showing Roberts had falsely stated he was a U.S. citizen.
Holy crap. DHS just released more info on the Iowa school superintendent and illegal alien Ian Andre Roberts. He has a very long, violent criminal record, combined with immigration fraud. He also voted in elections. pic.twitter.com/lZDeRJKmnw
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) October 3, 2025
“When election officials attempt to hide eligibility records, the public loses the ability to verify that the law is being followed,” RITE CEO Justin Riemer said.
“Once the records were produced, we saw just how weak Maryland’s safeguards really are.”
Maryland is facing additional pressure from federal authorities. Earlier in December, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division sued Maryland and five other states for failing to produce statewide voter registration lists upon request.
Republican state delegate Matt Morgan, chair of the Maryland Freedom Caucus, said Roberts’ case proves a recurring problem.
“For years, we’ve heard dismissals that non-citizens voting ‘never happens,’ yet Ian Andra Roberts’ story is irrefutable proof to the contrary,” Morgan said.
The Maryland State Board of Elections told Fox News Digital that the redaction issue had been corrected and that the board follows state and federal disclosure requirements.
Administrator Wendy Honesty-Bey said the board complied after legal review determined that some information could not be withheld.
Roberts’ arrest in September revealed additional concerns. DHS said he attempted to flee law enforcement and was carrying $3,000 in cash, a Glock 9 mm pistol, and a hunting knife.
He was charged Oct. 2 with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.
His criminal record includes charges for narcotics possession with intent to sell in New York in 1996, a 1998 vehicle charge in Queens, a 2012 reckless driving conviction in Maryland, weapons charges in 2020, and a 2022 conviction for unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in Pennsylvania.
Following his arrest, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked his license, and the district that hired him is suing the executive search firm involved in his recruitment.
Roberts’ attorney previously said he is reviewing all allegations to determine their accuracy.
The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.
