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

Ian Roberts, who led Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS), was no longer in the custody of the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, about 150 miles northwest of Des Moines, Sheriff Chad Sheehan said.

He was taken into federal custody on an arrest warrant and made his first court appearance, the Justice Department said. He is charged with being unlawfully present in the United States while possessing firearms.

Federal prosecutors said Roberts, 54, was found with four firearms on Sept. 26 while living in the country illegally. He will remain detained in federal custody pending further proceedings.

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

In addition to the deportation fight, an Iowa state board revoked Roberts’ license to serve as superintendent. In a resignation letter submitted to DMPS through his lawyer, Roberts said he did not want to distract district leaders and teachers from focusing on education.

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)

Meanwhile, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced Tuesday it would investigate whether the district engaged in racial discrimination by favoring minority applicants.