A city official in California is under FBI investigation, according to multiple reports, for calling on gangs in her city to “protect” their “turf” from “the biggest gang there is,” the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The video later was deleted, but the investigation now focuses on the threats from Cynthia Gonzalez, vice mayor of Cudahy,.
She had delivered her instructions to members of the 18th Street and Florencia 13 gangs.
There have been repeated riots in Los Angeles that were triggered by ICE officers delivering warrants and making arrests in an investigation into cartel crimes, apparently including money laundering.
Activists claimed the enforcement involved “immigration raids” and launched riots that have cost millions of dollars in damages and cleanup.
According to the New York Post, “Gonzalez later posted that the FBI came to her house and that she needs a lawyer,” a Fox reporter confirmed.
“A spokesperson for the FBI’s LA field office neither confirmed nor denied the investigation to The Post, but emphasized that the Bureau condemns all gang violence,” the report said.
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
JUST IN: The FBI is investigating the Vice Mayor of Cudahy, California, Cynthia Gonzalez, after she posted a video on social media calling on the 18th Street and Florencia 13 gang members to protect their “turf” against ICE, according to Fox News.
Gonzalez even told the gang… pic.twitter.com/gFqD8ZXX3Q
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) June 24, 2025
A longer video:
Constitutional expert Jonathan Turley, whose resume includes not only testifying to Congress as an expert on constitutional issues but representing members in court in those disputes, said, “The call for gang action is disgraceful, particularly as ICE reports a 500 percent increase in attacks on its officers. However, I do not believe that the comments can be the basis for a criminal charge and would be considered protected speech.”
“Gonzalez has now taken down the video below, but she earlier called for these gangs to move against ICE: ‘It’s everyone else who’s not about the gang life that’s out there protesting and speaking up. We’re out there… protecting our turf and protecting our people. And, like, where you at?’” he explained.
He noted, “This is not the first time that Democratic politicians have enlisted violent groups as political allies. Some Democrats have played a dangerous game in supporting or excusing the work of Antifa. Former Democratic National Committee deputy chair Keith Ellison, now the Minnesota attorney general, once said Antifa would ‘strike fear in the heart’ of Trump. This was after Antifa had been involved in numerous acts of violence, and its website was banned in Germany.”
Further, he explained, “Ellison’s son, Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison, declared his allegiance to Antifa in the heat of the protests this summer. During a prior hearing, Democratic senators refused to clearly denounce Antifa and falsely suggested that the far right was the primary cause of recent violence.”
He said, “The video may not be criminal, but it is still an indictment of how some Democratic politicians continue to pander to violent groups for political purposes. It is a dangerous game. History has shown that those who fuel extreme groups often find themselves later targets as mob rule takes hold. Gonzalez may find that she is also unwelcomed on their ‘turf.’”
