The vice mayor of a small city in Southern California is facing criticism for suggesting street gangs should gather in response to immigration sweeps carried out by federal agents in and around Los Angeles. In a now-deleted social media video, Cynthia Gonzalez, vice mayor of Cudahy, mentioned two prominent street gangs and questioned why their members were not protesting the immigration raids. She noted that ordinary citizens were the ones demonstrating against the presence of federal agents instead. The video seemed to address gang members directly, particularly those from the “18th Street” and “Florence” gangs, expressing surprise at their silence in the face of immigration enforcement activities. Gonzalez highlighted the increased immigration arrests in the Los Angeles area under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has led to ICE and Border Patrol agents detaining individuals at workplaces. The Department of Homeland Security condemned Gonzalez’s comments, labeling them as “despicable” and suggesting they could incite violence against ICE agents. The city of Cudahy distanced itself from Gonzalez’s remarks, stating that they do not represent the official position of the city. Cudahy is a suburb of Los Angeles with a predominantly Hispanic population, located about 10 miles south of downtown LA.
