Blue sanctuary state operating as 'control' center for vicious migrant gang: acting DEA chief

"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."

"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."  

Maltz called on state leaders to stop playing politics and instead help take violent criminal immigrants off the streets.

"The politics have to stop. This is not a red or blue issue, this is a red, white and blue issue," he said. "We have to start thinking about our citizens first."

"Why don't you thank law enforcement instead of being 'Monday morning quarterbacks' sitting at home and being critics?" he asked. "Why don't you ask the politicians in the state of Colorado why they are not uniting, why they are fighting the force of good that's going after evil?"

"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.

"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.

"I've got a warning for the TdA members," he added, "start running now."

"The team of the DEA, working with their partners from FBI, ATF, HSI, ICE ERO and our state and local counterparts, it's a team that takes public safety and national security serious and they've already proven what they can do," he said. "So they better go and find another state because they are not welcome here in Colorado." 

Colorado's two Democratic senators, Michael Bennett and John Hickenlooper, did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment by the time of publication. 

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."