CBS News Minnesota recently aired a report examining a group of residents in south Minneapolis who have established makeshift roadblocks and neighborhood checkpoints, describing the effort as a local response to concerns about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the area.
According to the report, neighbors created their own system of monitoring traffic and pedestrian movement in parts of south Minneapolis, characterizing the effort as a public safety measure and a form of resistance to federal immigration enforcement.
Participants involved in the effort said they believe immigration enforcement actions are harming their communities.
The activity was observed at the intersection of 32nd Street and Cedar Avenue, where residents placed a makeshift roadblock in the middle of the street, effectively turning the intersection into a roundabout.
Vehicles passing through the area slowed as drivers approached the obstruction. Some drivers honked, others stopped to ask questions, and at least one individual brought food to those standing watch at the intersection.
CBS News reported that residents involved in the effort said the roadblock was intended to increase awareness of unfamiliar vehicles moving through the neighborhood and to create a sense of control over who enters and exits the area.
During the report, one woman participating in the effort explained the motivation behind the checkpoints, stating, “We are literally creating a place that we know who’s coming and going in and out of our neighborhoods.”
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The report identified Wade Haynes as one of the residents participating in the effort.
Haynes was shown standing outside twice a day, according to CBS News, with the stated goal of ensuring children safely get on and off school buses and maintaining what he described as community safety.
Haynes said he felt safe having neighbors keep watch for unfamiliar cars moving through the neighborhood.
CBS News described the roadblocks as a grassroots response to immigration enforcement actions, noting that residents involved framed the effort as a way to protect their community and push back against federal policies they oppose.
The report characterized the effort as part of a broader pattern of local activism in response to immigration enforcement.
The segment also documented the reactions of passersby, including drivers who slowed to assess the situation and individuals who engaged directly with those staffing the roadblock.
The presence of the obstruction altered normal traffic flow at the intersection while the residents maintained their watch.
The report focused on how participants described their actions and the rationale they provided, while also showing the physical setup of the roadblock and the manner in which it affected daily movement through the neighborhood.
CBS News did not report any law enforcement intervention at the site during the segment.
The activity highlighted in the report took place in south Minneapolis and was presented as an example of localized opposition to federal immigration enforcement policies.
Residents involved described the effort as community-driven and centered on neighborhood awareness and safety.
CBS News framed the report around the residents’ stated concerns and actions, documenting both their explanations and the practical effects of the roadblock on traffic and daily routines in the area.
The segment did not indicate how long the roadblocks would remain in place or whether similar efforts were planned elsewhere.
The report concluded by emphasizing that the roadblocks were created and maintained by local residents without formal authority, relying on volunteer participation and neighborhood coordination.
The activity at 32nd Street and Cedar Avenue was presented as a visible and organized response by residents who oppose immigration enforcement operations in their community.
