Washington ? Landmark legislation to secure U.S. borders and offer millions of illegal immigrants a share of the American dream cleared the Senate on Thursday, a rare election-year reach across party lines and a triumph for President Bush.

The 62-36 vote cleared the way for arduous summertime compromise talks with the House on its immigration measure focusing on border enforcement with no guarantee of success. Republicans and Democrats said energetic participation by Bush would be critical.

“Why not say to those undocumented workers who are working the jobs that the rest of us refuse, come out from the shadows,” said Arizona Republican John McCain, a key architect of the bill.

The legislation includes money to better secure the borders, provide a new guest worker program and give an eventual shot at citizenship to many of the estimated 11 million to 12 million immigrants in the country illegally.

The bill “strengthens our security and reflects our humanity,” said Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., McCain’s partner in the Senate compromise. “It is intended to keep out those who would harm us and welcome those who contribute to our country.”

After spending 30 days crossing Mexico, a group of Honduran migrants watch Thursday from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande as others take a bath while waiting for a good moment to cross the river into the U.S. near the border city of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Legislation offering millions of illegal immigrants a chance at U.S. citizenship was approved Thursday by the Senate.

Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and the Democratic leader, Harry Reid, of Nevada, both sided with supporters, a reflection of the bipartisan backing for a bill that was months in the drafting and survived several near-death experiences. In all, 38 Democrats, 23 Republicans and one independent voted for the bill, while 32 Republicans and four Democrats opposed it.

Conservative critics attacked the legislation to the end after trying unsuccessfully to pull it apart with amendments.

“This bill will not secure our borders,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., one of the most persistent critics.

That portended difficult compromise talks in the shadow of midterm elections, at a time when Bush’s poll ratings are low, congressional Republicans are concerned and Democrats are increasingly optimistic about their chances in November.

The House bill, which passed on a largely party-line vote last year, is generally limited to border enforcement.