California Politician Faces Scrutiny for Urging Gangs to Defend Their ‘Hood’ Against ICE

The vice mayor of a city in Los Angeles County faces backlash after posting a video to social media that appears to show her calling on gang members to stand up against immigration raids.

Cynthia Gonzalez has served as vice mayor of Cudahy since 2022.

In a since-deleted video, she doesn’t mention Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by name but uses the word “cholo,” which in Mexican American culture is associated with street gangs, and calls out two L.A. gangs by name for not “protecting our people.”

“Not for nothing, but I want to know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles? 18th Street, Florencia, where’s the leadership at?” Gonzalez said in the video. “You guys are all about territory and this is 18th Street and this is Florencia, you guys tag everything up claiming hood. And now that your hood is being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you.”

“It’s everyone else who’s not about the gang life that’s out there protesting and speaking up,” she added. “We’re out there, like, fighting our turf, protecting our turf, protecting our people and, like, where you at?”

Gonzalez went on to say gang “leadership” should get their “membership in order.”

“Dude, they’re running amok on your streets and in your city,” Gonzalez continued in the video. “And peep, when the big gang’s guns come in, nothing but quiet and we’re out here, the regular ones that have never been jumped in, out here calling things out, trying to organize people, trying to do the thing. So don’t be trying to claim no block, no nothing if you’re not showing up right now trying to help out and organize… so whoever is the leadership over there, just f–ing get your membership in order.”

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The comments made by the Vice Mayor of Cudahy, CA, Cynthia Gonzalez, are despicable. She calls for criminal gangs – including the vicious 18th street gang—to commit violence against our brave ICE law enforcement.

This kind of garbage has led to a more than 500 percent increase… pic.twitter.com/c7yX0xB5o7

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 25, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security re-shared her video on the X platform, and called the comments “despicable.”

“She calls for criminal gangs – including the vicious 18th Street gang – to commit violence against our brave ICE law enforcement,” the agency said. “This kind of garbage has led to a more than 500 percent increase in assaults against our ICE law enforcement officers.”

The video comes nearly three weeks after ICE increased enforcement operations in L.A. County. Immigration sweeps began June 6, sparking fear in immigrant communities, including protests by Angelenos. Some residents have even chosen to stay home, worried about being detained.

Cudahy is the second smallest city in southeast L.A. County, with a population of about 22,000, according to the 2020 Census. About 96 percent of its residents are Hispanic.

Gonzalez, a native of southeast L.A., is serving a term that runs through December 2026, according to her city biography.

The city of Cudahy also issued a statement saying it is aware of the video.

“The comments made by the Vice Mayor reflect her personal views and do not represent the views or official position of the City of Cudahy. The City will not be providing further comment.”

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Police Protective League called for Gonzalez to resign, KTLA reported.

“What Ms. Gonzalez urged and taunted these specific gangs to do in her social media post puts police officers and other law enforcement professionals at greater risk,” the union said in a statement. “Her actions are deplorable and potentially illegal.”