At the start of confirmation hearings for U.S. Attorney General on Wednesday, Loretta E. Lynch defended the legality of President Obama's immigration policies, saying, "I don't see any reason to doubt the reasonableness of those views."

Lynch, the current U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, faced repeated questions on immigration from the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee, who have sharply criticized President Obama for his executive orders last year which protects millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. from deportation.

The legal justification for those actions had been approved by Attorney General Eric Holder Jr.

Republicans are eyeing the hearings as a way to push back on Obama's immigration decisions. Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the new Republican chairman of the committee, began the hearings questioning Lynch on the topic. Republican committee members include staunch immigration conservatives Sens. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah and David Vitter of Louisiana.

In a report from CNN, Grassley was reported saying, "I, for one, need to be persuaded that she'll be an independent attorney general."

Sen. Sessions, who recently criticized a bill by fellow Republicans aimed at strengthening U.S. borders as not being tough enough, questioned Lynch on whether she sees citizenship for undocumented immigrants as a "civil right" and whether they have the same rights for jobs as U.S. citizens. In a 25-page "immigration handbook" released earlier this month, Sessions argued an influx of low-wage workers depresses wages and job prospects of U.S. citizens.

Lynch focused on legal arguments and praised committee members' questions for their importance.

In her prepared remarks, Lynch highlighted her good relationships with law enforcement and pledged to continue working toward healing rifts between police and local communities.

"Few things have pained me more than the recent reports of tension and division between law enforcement and the communities we serve," she said. "If confirmed as Attorney General, one of my key priorities would be to work to strengthen the vital relationships between our courageous law enforcement personal and all the communities we serve."

If confirmed, Lynch, 55, would be the nation's first African-American woman to serve as attorney general. The White House hopes her low profile will be an asset in the confirmation hearings. The Senate requires only 51 votes for some presidential nominees and Lynch will likely be backed by all the Senate's Democrats, led by New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand.

Present at the hearing were about 30 friends and family members showing support, including red-clad members of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta.