Sens. Cruz and Lee threaten to block attorney general nominee over immigration

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- After President Obama nominated New York prosecutor Loretta Lynch for attorney general, Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Mike Lee, R-Utah, threatened to block her.

In a statement released on Saturday, the senators claim the current Congress should not decide the fate of the nominee, since many have lost their seats, and they want to know her opinion on President Obama's executive amnesty plans before confirming her.

"The nominee must demonstrate full and complete commitment to the law," the statement says. "Loretta Lynch deserves the opportunity to demonstrate those qualities, beginning with a statement whether or not she believes the President's executive amnesty plans are constitutional and legal."

The president has said he would prefer Congress to pass immigration reform, but will use executive action soon if nothing progresses soon. His plan could allow up to 5 million undocumented immigrants to remain in the country temporarily.