As Chinese students prepare to depart for American universities, they're not just focusing on academic preparations but also learning how to handle potential encounters with immigration authorities. Private summer camps in China are simulating encounters with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including fake raids, to equip students with knowledge about an unpredictable and hostile immigration system. This shift in preparation reflects growing concerns among some Chinese families regarding the safety of their children amidst President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration crackdown. The administration has tightened scrutiny of international students, expanded visa vetting, and taken steps to make it easier for immigration authorities to act against those with questionable status. In 2025, the government moved to terminate thousands of student records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), sparking lawsuits and widespread anxiety on US campuses. The psychological effect is significant, with students being encouraged to understand their rights, carry documentation, think carefully about their digital footprint, and know what to do if approached by immigration officers. For some families, the precautions have gone further, including strategies to avoid behavior that could attract immigration scrutiny. Chinese students occupy a unique position in the American higher-education system, with 265,919 enrolled during the 2024-25 academic year, accounting for 53% of all international students. However, they also sit at the intersection of two increasingly sensitive issues: immigration and US-China national security competition. Washington has raised concerns about technology transfer, espionage, intellectual property, and China's military-civil fusion strategy, while Beijing accuses Washington of discriminating against Chinese students and restricting normal academic exchanges. The latest change could make the anxiety even more acute, as the Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule ending the "duration of status" system for international students in July 2021, potentially affecting thousands of Chinese students' stay in the U.S.