Loretta Lynch, President Barack Obama's nominee to replace Eric Holder as Attorney General of the United States, believes that illegal aliens have "the right" to work in the United States.
Lynch told a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Wednesday that she thinks illegal aliens have the same right to work in America as American citizens do, Breitbart reported.
"Senator, I believe the right and the obligation to work is one that is shared by everyone in this country, regardless of how they came here," Lynch said when asked by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) on who has a greater right to work: Illegal aliens, or lawful immigrants and American citizens?
"Certainly, if someone is here-regardless of status-I would prefer that they be participating in the workplace than not participating in the workplace," the 55-year-old, who is currently the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, added.
But when questioned whether she would take action as attorney general against an employer who discriminated in favor of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents by hiring them in preference to illegal aliens, she refused to directly answer the question.
"With respect to whether or not those individuals [illegal aliens] would be able to seek redress for employment discrimination, if that is the purpose of your question, again, I haven't studied that legal issue," said Lynch. "I certainly think you raise an important point and would look forward to discussing it with you and using, and relying upon your thoughts and experiences as we consider that point."
On the issue of Obama's executive action on immigration, she doesn't believe it is an "amnesty," CNSNews.com reported.
"With respect to the provision about temporary deferral, I did not read it as providing a legal amnesty, that is that permanent status there," Lynch said.
When pressed further about whether she agreed with Holder's stated opinion that amnesty and citizenship for illegal aliens in America is a civil right, Lynch dodged the question saying she hasn't "studied the issue enough" to give a legal opinion.
Meanwhile, although the 55-year-old defended Obama's right to take executive action on immigration rules and aligned herself with the president's view on U.S. interrogation programs, she contradicted with his views about marijuana.
"Senator, I do not," Lynch told Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., when he asked whether she supports making pot legal.
