The former Iowa school district superintendent detained by immigration authorities last week has been taken into custody by the Justice Department.

Ian Roberts, the former leader of Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS), is no longer held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, located approximately 150 miles northwest of Des Moines, according to Sheriff Chad Sheehan.

Roberts was taken into federal custody due to an arrest warrant and has subsequently made his initial court appearance, as stated by the Justice Department. He faces charges for being in the United States illegally while in possession of firearms.

According to federal prosecutors, Roberts, aged 54, was discovered with four firearms on September 26 while residing in the country unlawfully. He will remain in federal detention pending further legal proceedings.

However, a DOJ criminal complaint said the attorney had only conveyed that the case was being closed in her office, not that it had been completed.

Besides facing deportation, an Iowa state board has taken away Roberts’ license for serving as superintendent. In a resignation letter sent to DMPS through his attorney, Roberts expressed his desire to avoid diverting the attention of district leaders and educators from educational focuses.

Hours later, the school board accepted his resignation.

Authorities said a handgun was found in a vehicle used by Ian Roberts to flee from pursuing ICE agents.  (ICE)

Additionally, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced on Tuesday its decision to investigate whether the district practiced racial discrimination by giving preference to minority applicants.