DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lawyers for the Des Moines public schools leader detained by immigration authorities have asked an immigration court to put deportation proceedings on hold.

Attorney Alfredo Parrish said his law firm filed the request for stay with the federal immigration court in Omaha on behalf of Superintendent Ian Roberts. Parrish did not elaborate on the filing, which was made under seal, but said his law firm planned a news conference later Tuesday.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Roberts last week , saying the native of Guyana was living and working in the country illegally. A state board promptly stripped Roberts of his license to be superintendent.

The Des Moines school board voted Monday night to put Roberts on unpaid leave from his job l

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