Local reaction from Denver’s Hispanic community to U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo’s comments Tuesday about Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s State of the Union speech has been equally harsh.

“Representative Tancredo continues to blame every problem he sees on Mexicans (and the Spanish language) rather than his own inability, and the inability of Congress, to pass comprehensive immigration reform that serves both U.S. industry and immigrants alike,” said Nolbert D. Chavez, public policy chair of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In a statement issued Tuesday, Tancredo said: “Indeed part of Mexico is moving into the United States, but unfortunately that includes drug runners, gang violence and the Spanish language supplanting English. I’m sure the people of Mexico would be extremely grateful if Calderon showed as much concern over the well-being of Mexicans unlucky enough to still live there as he does for the people who have successfully fled his country.”

His comments were in response to Calderon’s speech Sunday in which he said Mexico would “energetically protest unilateral actions” by the United States Congress regarding immigration that “exacerbate the persecution of undocumented Mexicans in the U.S.” Calderon also said resources at consulates here have been bolstered to protect the rights of Mexicans living here illegally.

“If Mexico thinks we need some sort of permission slip to act unilaterally in our country’s best interest, they have another thing coming,” Tancredo said. “Perhaps Calderon should take a refresher course on geography, because Mexico does in fact end at the Rio Grande.”

Local immigration reform proponents said they expected no less from Tancredo, who has taken to grabbing headlines with inflammatory and derogatory statements on the state of immigration and immigrants in the U.S.

“If he was truly committed to immigration reform, he would stay in Washington, D.C., roll up his sleeves and work hard to pass an immigration reform bill,” said Bill Vandenberg, executive director of Colorado Progressive Coalition, statewide civil rights network. “He shows no substance and no success and proves how anti-immigrant and out of step he is with those who believe in humane immigration reform.”

Tancredo, a Republican, represents Colorado’s 6th Congressional District and is running for his party’s nomination for President of the United States.

And while he continues to place at or near the bottom of most polls on Republican presidential hopefuls, his provocative comments — such as calling Miami a “Third World country” due to uncontrolled immigration — continue to grab headlines.