U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, feels American citizens should have priority over undocumented immigrants for getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Toward that end, he’s sponsoring legislation known as the Saving Hypodermic Injections and Offering Vaccines to Taxpayers Swiftly (SHOTS) Act) to ensure it happens.

The U.S. Mexican border, Keller noted, is a hot spot right now with many illegal aliens crossing into the U.S.

“We don’t know if they have COVID or not,” he said.

The crisis at the border, Keller said, is only being compounded by the Biden Administration giving taxpayer-funded vaccines to illegal aliens.

Keller was asked if it might be best to vaccinate as many people as possible whether they are citizens or not.

He said people should not be encouraged to enter the U.S. illegally.

As it stands now, the Biden Administration’s vaccine policy only incentivizes illegals to break the law, according to Keller.

“I will protect people as much as I can,” he said.

The American taxpayers, he noted, are paying for the vaccines — not illegal aliens.

Keller, who recently traveled to the border to consider the immigration situation, said he has not yet received a vaccine or registered for one.

He said he wants to ensure police, first responders and others receive the shots first.

Co-sponsors of the bill are U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, and Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina.