Vice Mayor of Cudahy, California, Cynthia Gonzalez is under FBI investigation after posting a video that urged local gangs to attack ICE agents enforcing Trump’s immigration policies in their neighborhoods.
Key Takeaways
- Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez is being investigated by the FBI after posting a social media video asking local gang members to “defend their turf” against ICE agents.
- The controversial video has sparked a heated national debate on the line between protected free speech and unlawful incitement to violence against federal officers.
- President Trump has deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles as protests against immigration enforcement operations have escalated.
- Nearly 400 people have been arrested in Los Angeles since the protests began, including individuals charged with throwing firebombs.
- California state and local leaders continue to resist federal immigration enforcement operations, highlighting the growing tension between federal and state authorities.
Vice Mayor’s Inflammatory Call to Action
In a shocking display that crossed the line from political protest to potential criminal incitement, Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez posted a video on social media directly appealing to Los Angeles gang members to confront Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Gonzalez specifically addressed “cholos” – a term for gang members – asking where they were while federal agents were operating in their communities. The video has prompted an FBI investigation into whether her statements constitute illegal incitement of violence against federal officers.
In her inflammatory video, Gonzalez claimed that ICE agents were “running their muck all up in your streets,” seemingly attempting to frame immigration enforcement as an invasion of gang territory that required defense. She specifically questioned “where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles?” – a clear appeal to gang members to “get in order” and confront federal authorities who were lawfully executing immigration enforcement operations authorized by President Trump’s administration.
“Not for nothing, but I wanna know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles?” said Cynthia Gonzalez, Vice Mayor of Cudahy, California.
Escalating Tensions in Los Angeles
The situation in Los Angeles has deteriorated rapidly as protests against immigration enforcement have turned violent. Two individuals, Emiliano Gardno Galvez and Wrackkie Quiogue, have been charged with throwing firebombs during the protests. The Los Angeles Police Department has arrested over 385 people since the demonstrations began. These escalating tensions prompted President Trump to deploy significant federal resources to restore order and ensure the continued enforcement of immigration laws.
Among those arrested was Jose Manuel Mojica, charged with assaulting a federal officer during a demonstration against immigration raids. Mojica, a father of four whose own father was deported in 2019, claims he was trying to de-escalate tensions when law enforcement allegedly attacked him. His attorney has framed his actions as protected First Amendment expression, but federal prosecutors maintain that he crossed the line into criminal behavior, much like the allegations now facing Vice Mayor Gonzalez.
“We are not the violent ones. They escalated it. They are chasing down innocent people,” said Jose Manuel Mojica, Los Angeles protester.
National Response and Federal Action
President Trump has taken decisive action to address the situation in Los Angeles, deploying 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to support federal immigration enforcement operations. The Department of Homeland Security has also requested Pentagon assistance for transporting weapons and providing drone surveillance to ensure the safety of federal agents conducting lawful immigration enforcement operations. This robust federal response stands in stark contrast to the resistance from California officials.
“America voted for mass deportations. Violent insurrectionists, and the politicians who enable them, are trying to overthrow the results of the election,” said Stephen Miller, Senior Advisor to President Trump.
Despite the clear mandate from American voters who elected President Trump on a platform that included stronger immigration enforcement, California officials continue to obstruct federal operations. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other city leaders have called for an end to ICE operations, effectively undermining the rule of law and the federal government’s constitutional authority over immigration matters. The conflict has expanded beyond Los Angeles, with protests spreading to New York, Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.
Legal Implications and Free Speech Boundaries
The case against Vice Mayor Gonzalez highlights the critical distinction between protected political speech and criminal incitement. While Americans have the constitutional right to protest government policies, directly calling for violence against federal officers crosses a clear legal boundary. The FBI investigation will determine whether Gonzalez’s statements meet the legal threshold for criminal charges, which could include solicitation of violence against federal agents or seditious conspiracy.
Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, Gonzalez’s inflammatory rhetoric represents a dangerous escalation that puts both law enforcement officers and community members at risk. By attempting to mobilize violent gang members against federal authorities, she has potentially endangered the very communities she claims to represent. Her actions stand in stark contrast to the lawful execution of immigration policies that American voters clearly supported in electing President Trump.
