California vice mayor calls for GANGS to defend their 'hood' from ICE

The vice mayor of a Los Angeles County city is reportedly under federal investigation after posting a video to social media in which she called on gang members to defend their "turf" from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Cynthia Gonzalez shared the video to social media late last week, Fox News reported, in which she said, "Not for nothing, but I wanna know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles. 18 Street, Florencia, where’s the leadership at? Because you guys are all about territory and this is 18 Street and this is Florencia, 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 on your streets, on your streets and in your city, and peep when the big gang 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, out trying to organize people, trying to do the thing. So don’t be trying to claim no block, no nothing 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, tryna claim that this is my block. This was not your block, you weren’t even here helping out. So whoever’s the leadership over there, just f*cking get your members in order."

The video was reportedly deleted shortly after it was posted. Federal sources told Fox News that she was later visited by FBI agents at her home and is now under a federal investigation. The sources said that she went back on social media to say that the FBI had come to her home and she needed a lawyer. 

The Department of Homeland Security called Gonzalez’s comments "despicable," adding, "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 City of Cudahy issued a statement on the comments, writing that they are "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 18th Street gang reportedly has upwards of 50,000 members and distributes cocaine and marijuana as a main source of income. Members are known to conduct crimes such as assault, carjacking, robbery, and other offenses. Members of the southern-LA-based Florencia 13 gang have recently been accused of murder, fentanyl trafficking, and extortion.