Fields Demands Accountability After International Student Visas Revoked in Louisiana
Congressman Cleo Fields (D-La.) is demanding answers from federal officials after eight international students at Southern University had their visas revoked without a clear explanation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Cleo Fields is demanding answers after the Trump administration abruptly revoked visas from 16 international students enrolled at Louisiana universities, including eight attending Southern University.
In a formal appeal sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Fields called for an immediate review of the decision and urged federal officials to reinstate the students' visas until a full investigation can determine the legitimacy of the action.
“These students were here legally, pursuing higher education, and contributing to our academic institutions,” Fields said in a statement. “Stripping them of their status without due process not only jeopardizes their future—it casts doubt on America’s global standing as a place where scholarship and fairness are upheld.”
The congressman criticized the administration for what he described as an unexplained and sudden decision that disrupts not only individual lives but also the integrity of international academic exchange.
Fields, who represents Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District, emphasized that immigration enforcement must remain rooted in transparency, legal clarity, and fairness, not politics or policy shifts that penalize young scholars.
The visa revocations, which target students across several Louisiana universities, have stirred concern among educators, legal advocates, and local officials. Fields’ intervention marks one of the first formal challenges to the action and signals growing scrutiny over how immigration policies are impacting education in the state.
Southern University, a historically Black college in Baton Rouge, is among the institutions most affected. University officials have yet to release a public statement on the matter.
The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to inquiries regarding the reason behind the visa terminations. Fields maintains that without clear justification, the revocations risk violating both procedural rights and international confidence in the U.S. educational system.
