Therapy Dog Helps Heal Trauma in Minnesota School After Immigration Crackdown

In the wake of one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement operations in recent history, a therapy dog named Sage is helping young students at Valley View Elementary School in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, cope with deep psychological wounds. The school, part of the Columbia Heights Public Schools district, saw attendance plummet during the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge," which resulted in more than 4,000 arrests and multiple shootings, including two fatalities, before winding down in February 2026.

Sage, a goldendoodle, is not just a comforting presence; she is a key part of a broader strategy to address the trauma experienced by children who witnessed arrests, lost relatives to deportation, or endured anxious weeks hiding indoors. At least four students at the school were themselves detained and sent to a family detention center in Dilley, Texas.

Social worker Nicole Herje leads group therapy sessions with Sage, helping students process their fear and grief.

The impact of the crackdown extended beyond immigrant families. Sarah Anikpo, a U.S.-born psychiatric physician assistant, said her 9-year-old son Zeke developed severe anxiety after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Good, a U.S.

citizen, near his school. Zeke began having nightmares about a "grey man" and could no longer sleep alone.

Experts warn that such trauma can cause lasting structural changes in children's brains, leading to symptoms like loss of appetite, fear of sleeping alone, and academic disengagement.

Despite the fear, returning to school has been a crucial step in recovery. Herje has witnessed joyful reunions between friends who had not seen each other for months.

During a virtual class on emotions, one kindergartner said what makes her happy is "when I see my friends." Another expressed sadness because her grandmother had to return to Ecuador. The school continues to provide support, including virtual learning options that ended after spring break, and now focuses on helping students rebuild a sense of safety and normalcy.