A Republican congresswoman from Arizona is drawing backlash for saying that Hispanics are "good workers," but that "American citizens" should be vaccinated first, stirring a divisive debate on immigration amid the pandemic.

Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., said: "I worked with people that are Hispanic.

...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.

Arizona is already prioritizing senior citizens, health care workers and other critical care workers for vaccination!

"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.".

Lesko said in a statement to several news outlets that what she said was something "that could be misinterpreted," but she doubled down on her comments on social media, tweeting: “It’s outrageous that Democrats are prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens.

Juan Mendez served with Lesko when she was in the state Legislature.