Chinese students have been sent to private boot camps in China, dubbed 'ICE camps,' before heading to the United States for study. The courses train participants for kidnappings, robberies, and encounters with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Parents are increasingly anxious about reports of violent crime in American cities and tougher immigration enforcement under President Trump's crackdown. The privately run camps emerged as a response to these fears.
Mock kidnappings and other scenarios
In one exercise, students preparing for bed were interrupted by a masked man who burst into their room, tied them up, and forced them to record a ransom message on their phone, according to the South China Morning Post. Other scenarios included telephone scams, hate crime, racism, and interactions with ICE officers.
One student told the newspaper: “I hope I never have to use any of this, but I definitely feel more alert after learning it.”
US remains top destination despite fears
Despite the concerns, the US remained the most popular overseas study destination for Chinese students, followed by the UK and Australia. More than 260,000 Chinese students attended American universities in the last academic year, although this figure fell from a peak of over 300,000.
Western degrees continue to carry prestige, and studying abroad offers English practice and perceived greater freedom. However, Chinese education and propaganda have highlighted inequality and danger in American cities, contrasting them with China's more restrictive but law-abiding society.
Additional government measures
Chinese authorities already offer pre-study training for government-funded programs. Officials also issued a travel warning for students going to the US due to expected hostility from immigration officers. The private residential camps go further with practical exercises for situations students might face abroad.
In Britain, the number of Chinese students has held up better than expected since the pandemic, partly because parents nervous about the US have chosen the UK instead.
