FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2015

CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, [email protected], 213-400-7822

NILC: Loretta Lynch Is the Right Choice

WASHINGTON — Loretta Lynch, a champion of civil rights, was confirmed today by the Senate to be the next attorney general of the United States, the first African American woman to serve in that post. Most recently, she served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Following the 56-43 Senate vote, National Immigration Law Center (NILC) Executive Director Marielena Hincapié issued the following statement:

“Although her nomination was beset by hyperpartisan attacks and delays, the Department of Justice will finally be able to count on Attorney General Lynch to lead them into this next, crucial phase of its history.

“Lynch’s credentials and her record of vigorously fighting financial fraud, cybercrimes, and civil rights violations by law enforcement officers won bipartisan Senate praise. She has pledged to work to strengthen the bonds between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.

“Unfortunately, the final Senate tally did not reflect her qualifications, because some chose to politicize this important vote for the country’s chief law enforcement officer and instead used their vote as a protest against President Obama’s immigration initiatives. During her Senate Judiciary Committee testimony, Lynch observed that DAPA and DACA are legally sound. The new attorney general’s independent assessment has support: Over a hundred legal scholars agree that the law is on President Obama’s side with regard to the November 20 immigration actions.

“The needless, long delay in the confirmation vote was a disappointing commentary on the broken legislative process that held her confirmation hostage to an unrelated political dispute. Lynch, the execution of justice, and our nation deserve better from elected officials.

“As the first African American woman to lead this important post, Loretta Lynch serves as a role model not just to women of color, but to all Americans, no matter where they were born or how humble their beginnings. We look forward to working with her and with others at the Department of Justice to ensure that all people, regardless of immigration or socioeconomic status, are treated equally under the law.”

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