California Vice Mayor Under FBI Probe for Inciting Gang War Against ICE

Paul Riverbank, 6/26/2025In a stunning display of political recklessness, Cudahy Vice Mayor Gonzalez has ignited a firestorm by apparently encouraging gang intervention against ICE operations. This unprecedented incident underscores the dangerous intersection of local politics and immigration enforcement, raising serious concerns about public safety and official conduct.

The Dangerous Dance of Local Politics and Immigration Enforcement

A startling political crisis has erupted in the small working-class city of Cudahy, where Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez's inflammatory social media post has sparked what might become a federal investigation. The incident lays bare the raw tensions between local governance and federal immigration enforcement in Southern California.

I've spent decades covering political controversies, but this one stands out. Gonzalez didn't just criticize ICE operations – she made the extraordinary decision to call out specific street gangs by name, seemingly encouraging them to confront federal agents. "Where are all the cholos at?" she asked in her now-deleted TikTok video, before referencing the 18th Street and Florencia 13 gangs.

Let's be clear about what we're dealing with here. These aren't neighborhood watch groups – they're violent criminal enterprises that have terrorized communities for generations. The LAPD Protective League wasn't mincing words when they described these organizations as ruling through "intimidation, violence and murder."

The fallout was swift and severe. DHS shot back with numbers – a 500% spike in assaults against ICE officers. The FBI showed up at Gonzalez's door. Her own city scrambled to distance itself from her remarks.

What strikes me most is the profound disconnect this reveals. Here's an elected official, someone trusted to protect public safety, apparently willing to pit violent criminals against federal law enforcement. Nancy Delgado, a lifetime Cudahy resident I spoke with, put it bluntly: "She's talking insane."

But there's a deeper story here about the fractured relationship between federal immigration enforcement and local communities. While Gonzalez's actions appear indefensible, they reflect real frustrations with immigration raids in predominantly Latino neighborhoods.

The Police Protective League wants her gone. ICE officials are furious. And somewhere in between, regular folks in Cudahy are left wondering how their vice mayor ended up encouraging gang violence instead of working toward actual immigration reform.

This isn't just about one official's spectacular lapse in judgment – it's a warning sign of how badly the immigration debate has deteriorated in some corners of American politics. When elected leaders start viewing street gangs as preferable to federal agents, we've entered dangerous territory indeed.

As federal investigators dig deeper, one thing is certain: Gonzalez's viral moment of rebellion may cost her far more than just her political career.

The Dangerous Dance of Local Politics and Immigration EnforcementA startling political crisis has erupted in the small working-class city of Cudahy, where Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez's inflammatory social media post has sparked what might become a federal investigation. The incident lays bare the raw tensions between local governance and federal immigration enforcement in Southern California.I've spent decades covering political controversies, but this one stands out. Gonzalez didn't just criticize ICE operations – she made the extraordinary decision to call out specific street gangs by name, seemingly encouraging them to confront federal agents. "Where are all the cholos at?" she asked in her now-deleted TikTok video, before referencing the 18th Street and Florencia 13 gangs.Let's be clear about what we're dealing with here. These aren't neighborhood watch groups – they're violent criminal enterprises that have terrorized communities for generations. The LAPD Protective League wasn't mincing words when they described these organizations as ruling through "intimidation, violence and murder."The fallout was swift and severe. DHS shot back with numbers – a 500% spike in assaults against ICE officers. The FBI showed up at Gonzalez's door. Her own city scrambled to distance itself from her remarks.What strikes me most is the profound disconnect this reveals. Here's an elected official, someone trusted to protect public safety, apparently willing to pit violent criminals against federal law enforcement. Nancy Delgado, a lifetime Cudahy resident I spoke with, put it bluntly: "She's talking insane."But there's a deeper story here about the fractured relationship between federal immigration enforcement and local communities. While Gonzalez's actions appear indefensible, they reflect real frustrations with immigration raids in predominantly Latino neighborhoods.The Police Protective League wants her gone. ICE officials are furious. And somewhere in between, regular folks in Cudahy are left wondering how their vice mayor ended up encouraging gang violence instead of working toward actual immigration reform.This isn't just about one official's spectacular lapse in judgment – it's a warning sign of how badly the immigration debate has deteriorated in some corners of American politics. When elected leaders start viewing street gangs as preferable to federal agents, we've entered dangerous territory indeed.As federal investigators dig deeper, one thing is certain: Gonzalez's viral moment of rebellion may cost her far more than just her political career.