A US Senate panel has approved legislation to give millions of illegal immigrants a path to American citizenship. The move will put 11 million illegal residents including over 2.6 lakh Indians on a 13-year path to citizenship.

It will also further strengthen security along the south-western border with Mexico considered porous as far as illegal crossings into the United States is concerned.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill by a 13 to 5 vote. The bill passed through the key Senate committee only after lawmakers reached a deal on H-1B visa expansion plan. The legislation will now go to the full Senate.

President Barack Obama praised the Senate panel's action, saying the bill is consistent with the goals he has envisaged. He urged the full Senate to bring this bipartisan bill to the floor at earliest possible opportunity.