The United States Senate voted 51-49 to confirm Indian-American Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general, making her the first person of colour to occupy the third highest position at the Department of Justice.

Vanita Gupta is the daughter of Indian immigrants who came to the US with only eight dollars and a dream. She has become one of the foremost civil rights advocates in the country and will effectuate our highest ideals of justice as associate attorney general, said Neil Makhija, executive director of IMPACT, a leading Indian-American advocacy group.

 Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski broke away from her party colleagues to support Gupta (46), that gave the Democrats 51 votes to see her through the historic confirmation.

Vice President Kamala Harris was present in the Senate to cast her vote in case of a tie. The two parties have 50 members each in the 100-seat United States Senate.

Congratulations to Vanita Gupta on making history as the first woman of colour to serve as associate attorney general. Now, I urge the Senate to confirm Kristen Clarke. Both are eminently qualified, highly respected lawyers who are dedicated to advancing racial equity and justice, President Joe Biden said.

 Gupta is also the first civil rights lawyer to serve at one of the top three positions at the Department of Justice.

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Chuck Schumer, who played a key role in her confirmation, said Gupta is the first-ever woman of colour and civil rights attorney to serve in the role.

She will bring a long overdue perspective to our federal law enforcement agency, he said.

The daughter of Indian immigrants who was born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Gupta has had an illustrious career of fighting for civil rights.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and Juris Doctor from New York University.

At the age of 28, she started her career at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund where she successfully overturned the wrongful drug convictions of 38 Black Americans in Tulia, Texas.