California official criticized for appearing to call on gangs to
intervene in immigration raids
[June 26, 2025]
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The vice mayor of a small Southern California city is
under fire after appearing to call on street gangs to organize in the
face of immigration sweeps by federal agents in and around Los Angeles.
In a video post on social media that has since been deleted, Cynthia
Gonzalez, vice mayor of Cudahy, referenced two well-known street gangs
and questioned why gang members were not protesting or speaking up about
the immigration raids. She said ordinary citizens are the ones on the
streets protesting the presence of federal agents.
“You guys tag everything up, claiming hood, and now that your hood’s
being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of
you,” Gonzalez said.
She referenced “18th Street” and “Florence,” two infamous street gangs,
and appeared to be speaking directly to their members. She said U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are “running amok all up in
your streets.”
“We’re out there fighting our turf, protecting our turf, protecting our
people and, like, where you at?” she said.
The Department of Homeland Security called Gonzalez’s comments
“despicable” and said the remarks will contribute to rising assaults
against federal ICE agents.
“She calls for criminal gangs — including the vicious 18th street gang —
to commit violence against our brave U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement law enforcement,” the department said in a post on X that
included Gonzalez’s video. “Secretary Noem has been clear: If you
assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent
of the law.”
The Los Angeles Times reported that the police union, formally known as
the Los Angeles Police Protective League, called for the vice mayor’s
resignation and possible prosecution.
“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. Her actions are deplorable and
potentially illegal. She should resign and she should be prosecuted if
what she called for broke the law,” the union said.
Gonzalez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The video comes as President Donald Trump's administration has
aggressively stepped up immigration arrests in the Los Angeles area in
recent weeks. Agents from ICE, as well as Border Patrol, have been seen
arresting and detaining people at their workplaces, and Trump has
deployed the National Guard and Marines to protect federal buildings and
guard officers making arrests.
The remarks appear to break with leading California officials —
including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — who have urged residents to
peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights.
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A protester holds a sign as a Waymo taxi burns near the metropolitan
detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP
Photo/Eric Thayer)
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central
District of California, which includes Los Angeles County, declined
to comment when asked if Gonzalez was under investigation.
According to her biography on the city's website, Gonzalez grew up
in nearby Huntington Park, the daughter of immigrant parents. She
has two daughters.
She received a bachelor's degree from the University of California,
Santa Barbara. She later earned two master’s degrees in education
from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she also
earned an educational leadership doctorate, the website said.
Gonzalez has worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District as a
teacher and school principal in the LA area and is currently the
director of pilot schools support and innovation, the biography
said.
It says Gonzalez “is passionate about creating healthy and safe
communities that allow students and families to lead healthy and
meaningful lives.”
The school district said in an emailed statement, "As of June 1,
2025, Cynthia Gonzales has been on a leave of absence. We are aware
of the situation and are looking into it in accordance with district
policy. However, due to the confidentiality of personnel matters, we
are unable to further comment on this.”
The city of Cudahy said in a statement Tuesday that it was 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 statement read. “The City will not be providing further
comment.”
According to county records, Gonzalez was elected in 2022 with 880
votes. Municipal elections in California are nonpartisan — party
labels do not appear on the ballot.
Cudahy is a Los Angeles suburb that is home to 22,000 residents,
about 10 miles (16.09 kilometers) south of downtown LA. According to
the U.S. Census data, 97% of residents are Hispanic or Latino.
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