[JURIST] US Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) [official website] has called for a quick return to the debate on immigration reform [JURIST news archive] when the Senate reconvenes on April 25. In a letter [text] to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) [official website], Reid noted the large demonstrations [JURIST report] that have occurred throughout the US in recent weeks and called Frist's handling of a compromise amendment [JURIST report, PDF summary] that stalled last week "very confusing." The compromise would have allowed a portion of illegal immigrants to remain in the United States. Frist, speaking to reporters from a trip to Eastern Europe, blamed Senate Democrats for the deadlock. AP has more.

On Tuesday, Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) [official website] said they would reexamine two provisions [JURIST report] of a contentious immigration bill passed by the House of Representatives last year in order to move forward on reform legislation. The House version [HR 4437 summary] contains provisions which would make unlawful presence in the US a felony and could punish groups that provide humanitarian relief to immigrants.