Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch said Wednesday she mostly supports President Obama’s executive actions on immigration, an issue likely to become a sticking point with Senate Republicans as her nomination moves forward.

“I thought the legal opinion was reasonable,” Ms. Lynch said at a hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, adding that the president’s actions were a “reasonable way to marshal limited resources to deal with the problem.”

“I did find it to be responsible that we prioritize removal, particularly those who are involved in violent crime, terrorism, recent crossers,” she said.

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Her comments brought swift condemnation from several committee Republicans who have sought to overturn the president’s actions that they view as unconstitutional and who focused much of their questioning Wednesday on the topic.

“It goes way beyond the law,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama. “It goes clearly to allowing someone to work who’s unlawfully in America, to take jobs. It gives them a right to Social Security, it gives them a number, with rights to participate in other programs like Medicare.”

After Wednesday’s hearing, Mr. Sessions issued a statement saying he would oppose Ms. Lynch’s nomination.

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Mr. Obama’s executive action late last year put on hold the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants. Republican senators criticized Ms. Lynch’s assertion that it was an endeavor to allow border patrol agents to focus on dangerous criminals before turning their attention to other illegal immigrants.

“His action goes well beyond setting prosecutorial priorities,” said Sen. David Vitter, Louisiana Republican, adding that it was “troubling” Ms. Lynch seemed to support the president’s “illegal, unconstitutional, executive amnesty.”

Committee Democrats largely tried to steer debate away from immigration and keep it on Ms. Lynch’s history and performance as a U.S. Attorney in New York.

“The president’s immigration policies are not seeking confirmation today,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, New York Democrat. “Loretta Lynch is.”

Mr. Schumer also said he supports the president’s hold on deportations, saying it will allow border security agents to focus on the most dangerous illegal immigrants.

“They have to make hard choices, and a straightforward allocation of resources is not political advocacy,” he said. “We have limited resources. It makes sense to go over the hardened criminals before going after low level offenders.”

Other Democrats argued that outside issues should have no bearing on Ms. Lynch’s qualifications.

“She is the nomination for attorney general and that is why I’m focusing on her,” said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat.

Sen. Christopher Coons, Delaware Democrat, said that “the attorney general often serves as a lightning rod for those with complaints about this administration.”

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