Rep. Debbie Lesko, a Republican congresswoman from Arizona is facing searing criticism from the Latino community after she said during a debate on the issues of immigration and the pandemic, Hispanics are “good workers,” but “American citizens” should be vaccinated first.
"I worked with people that are Hispanic. I mean they're very good workers. ...We're compassionate people, but for goodness sakes, we have to take care of American citizens, or people that are here legally, first."
“I'm just not going to be able to explain to my senior citizens that we're giving away the vaccines to people that (are) here illegally," Lesko said according to NBC News. "I just think that's totally wrong."
Arizona has a high Latino population at 32% but according to the Pew Research Center, only 4% are undocumented.
"It reeks of racism," Sen. Martin Quezada told NBC about said Lesko's comments. "There are a lot of people of color in her district and for her to be disconnected and really that offensive about how she sees us, as nothing more than good workers and not entitled to equitable vaccine distribution."
After saying that her comments were misinterpreted, Lesko went on to tweet: It’s outrageous that Democrats are prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens! Their Covid-19 'plan' would allow illegal immigrants to get vaccinated ahead of our nation’s seniors who are desperately waiting to get vaccinated."