Loretta Lynch, in Confirmation Hearing, Defends Legality of Obama Immigration Action

Loretta E. Lynch, the nominee to become attorney general, on Wednesday defended the legality of President Obama’s immigration policy at the start of a confirmation hearing in which the new Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee promised tough questions.

Republicans have been particularly critical of the president’s decision last year to unilaterally ease the threat of deportation for millions of unauthorized immigrants. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. approved the legal justification for that action.

Some Republicans have