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Los Angeles County vice mayor allegedly told gangs to defend territory from ICE, FBI investigating
"18th Street, Florencia — where's the leadership at? Because you guys are all about territory," Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez allegedly said.
By Natalia Mittelstadt
Published: June 25, 2025 11:14am
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The vice mayor of a city in Los Angeles County allegedly told gangs to defend their territory from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, leading to an FBI investigation, according to a recent news report.
Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez allegedly posted a video on social media late last week in which she encouraged two gangs to protect their territory from ICE. She reportedly deleted the video shortly after posting it, according to Fox News.
"Not for nothing, but I want to know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles," Gonzalez said in the video, which the Department of Homeland Security posted on X on Tuesday. "18th Street, Florencia — where's the leadership at? Because you guys are all about territory … 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.
"It's everyone else who's not about the gang life that's out there protesting and speaking up — we're out there, like fighting our turf — protecting our turf, protecting our people, and like, where you at?" she continued.
"I'm like, dude, they're running amok all up in your streets, on your streets and in your city, and peep. When the big guns come in, nothing but like, 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 this thing. So don't be trying to claim no block, no nothing," Gonzalez said.
"If you're not showing up right now, trying to like, help out and organize, I don't want to hear a peep out of you once they're gone, trying to claim that this is my block. This was not your block, you weren't even here helping out. So whoever's in leadership over there, just get our f-cking members in order."
Gonzalez was visited by FBI agents at her home after posting the video and is now allegedly under federal investigation, federal sources told Fox News. She reportedly posted on social media after the incident, saying that the FBI came to her home and that she needed a lawyer, according to sources.
FBI Los Angeles told Fox News they could not confirm or deny an investigation was underway, but said they condemn any call for gang violence.
A Cudahy spokesperson told FOX 11 Los Angeles on Tuesday regarding the video, “The City of Cudahy is aware of recent comments made by Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez on social media. 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.”
DHS condemned Gonzalez's comments in its X post of her video, saying, "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 in assaults against our ICE 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."
The 18th Street gang has 30,000 to 50,000 members across 28 states, with its California membership being around 80% undocumented immigrants from Mexico and Central America, the New York Post reported. Its main source of revenue comes from cocaine and marijuana distribution, according to Fox News. The gang's members have also committed assault, auto theft, carjacking, and robbery.
Florencia 13 is a gang that has about 3,000 members and is a regional chapter of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, according to the Post. The crimes its members have been accused of include fentanyl trafficking, extortion, and murder, per Fox News.