The recent actions of Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez have sparked a significant FBI investigation and a heated debate on immigration policies after she appeared to call on street gangs to confront federal agents.
At a Glance
- Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez is under FBI investigation for comments made in a social media video.
- In the video, Gonzalez appeared to urge local street gangs to oppose federal immigration operations in Los Angeles.
- The Department of Homeland Security has fiercely condemned her remarks, linking them to a rise in assaults on ICE officers.
- The City of Cudahy has officially disavowed her statements, clarifying they are her personal views.
Vice Mayor’s Controversial Call to Action
Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez is at the center of a federal probe after posting a now-deleted video in which she challenged local street gangs to defend their territory against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. In the video, first reported by Fox News, Gonzalez directly addressed notorious gangs.
“I want to know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles,” she said. “18th Street, Florencia—where’s the leadership at? Because you guys are all about territory… you guys tag everything up, claiming the hood. And now that your hood’s being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, she continued by contrasting their inaction with community protesters: “It’s everyone else who’s not about the gang life that’s out there protesting and speaking up… and, like, where you at?”
Federal Probe and City’s Condemnation
The remarks quickly triggered a federal investigation. While the FBI has not officially confirmed the probe, “federal sources” have, and Gonzalez herself wrote on social media that FBI agents had visited her home and that she was seeking a lawyer. The FBI did issue a general statement condemning “any calls for violence or targeting of law enforcement.”
The City of Cudahy moved swiftly to distance itself from the Vice Mayor’s inflammatory comments. In a formal statement, the city clarified its position: “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,” as reported by NBC Los Angeles.
DHS Links Rhetoric to Rise in Assaults
The Department of Homeland Security issued a blistering condemnation of Gonzalez. In a statement sourced from Yahoo News, the DHS linked her words to a dangerous trend of violence against federal officers.
“She calls for criminal gangs—including the vicious 18th Street gang—to commit violence against our brave ICE law enforcement,” the DHS statement read. “This kind of garbage has led to a more than 500 percent increase in assaults against our ICE law enforcement officers.” The “500 percent increase” figure comes from a recent DHS report detailing a surge in attacks on agents during their duties.
The ongoing investigation and the fierce backlash have placed Gonzalez at the center of a national debate about the responsibility of public officials and the limits of free speech, particularly when it intersects with law enforcement operations.
