The vice-mayor of a tiny 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 Los Angeles.
In a video post on social media that’s since been deleted, Cynthia Gonzalez, vice-mayor of Cudahy, said she wanted to know where all of the gang members were “at in Los Angeles”.
“You guys are always tagging 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, using a disparaging term often aimed at Mexican men who are members of street gangs.
She further referenced “18th Street” and “Florence”, two infamous street gangs, and questioned why gang members were not protesting or speaking up about the immigration raids.
“We’re out there fighting our turf, protecting our turf, protecting our people and, like, where you at?” she said.
The video seemed to suggest Gonzalez was calling on gang leaders to “help out and organize” as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies participate in the Trump administration’s intensifying crackdown on immigrants.
The Department of Homeland Security called Gonzalez’s comments “despicable”.
“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. “This kind of garbage has led to a more than 500% increase in assaults against our U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement officers. Secretary Noem has been clear: If you assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Gonzalez did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The city of Cudahy said in a statement on Tuesday 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.”
Cudahy is a Los Angeles suburb with 22,000 residents, about 10 miles (16km) south of downtown LA.
