DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz, armed members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis (Leigh Vogel/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore/Edwin Romero)
"Now, we are learning that the command and control for TdA in the entire United States of America is right here in Colorado," Maltz told the outlet.
He said this information was based on new intelligence from the "men and women on the front lines and what we’re seeing."
Maltz said the laws of Democratic-run Colorado have allowed TdA and other criminals to "take advantage of vulnerabilities and weaknesses" to perpetuate their crimes.
"Anybody that thinks it’s a good idea to open up the border to adversaries around the world and then not even know who they are coming into our communities, it makes no sense," he said, adding, "People in this state have allowed illegal violent criminals in here at record levels."
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Tren de Aragua (TdA) members arrested in Texas (Tren de Aragua (TdA) members arrested in Texas)
"Wake up, pay attention," he went on. "Talk to the citizens that can’t go out of their house at night when gunshots are going off, talk to people that are being extorted, talk to people that are being kidnapped and raped, talk to people that are being impacted every day."
Despite the criticism, Maltz said the federal government is "connecting the dots" and taking a "whole of government" approach to finally crack down on TdA and other migrant criminals, regardless of Colorado’s laws.
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"I'm proud to report that right now, the cartels, the MS-13, the violent gangs like Tren de Aragua, they're going to be held accountable, and they're already being held accountable," he said.
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President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Jared Polis at the White House. (Leigh Vogel/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Eric Maruyama, a representative for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, responded to Maltz's statements by telling Fox News Digital that the state "works with the DEA all the time on criminal investigations and to apprehend violent offenders and fugitives whether they are here legally or illegally."
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Maruyama instead placed the blame for the crisis on the federal government, saying, "The reality is that Congress and the federal government for years have failed to fix our broken immigration system, secure our border, and create pathways to citizenship for people."
"Gov. Polis is focused on improving public safety and has signed comprehensive laws to crack down on illegal gun crimes, get fentanyl off the streets, and recruit and retain more law enforcement," he claimed. "When it comes to criminal investigations or prosecutions, Colorado works closely with all federal partners, in accordance with state and federal law, to fight crime and enhance public safety."
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blue-sanctuary-state-operating-control-center-vicious-migrant-gang-acting-dea-chief