March 25 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. immigrant-detention population has surged in the past decade, resulting in a lack of due process that has driven some to attempt suicide, according to an Amnesty International USA report.

Since 1996, the number of people detained has multiplied three times to more than 30,000 from 10,000, according to the report, released today. In some cases, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been incarcerated for years before getting the opportunity to prove their status, the report said.

“It became the rule that people would be detained,” said Sarnata Reynolds, policy director for refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International USA and one of the report’s authors. When a person gets detained, “no one is acting fast.”

Last month, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano appointed Dora Schriro to monitor the increase in detentions and holding facilities’ conditions. While changes have been made, more needs to be done, said Cori Bassett, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“We’re looking very carefully at the system and looking at ways for improvement,” she said.

Amnesty International recommends that detention become a last resort and that authorities refrain from harsh restraining methods. The New York-based human rights groups also said Congress should pass legislation that would ensure immigrants have individual hearings to determine the need for detention.

Suicide Attempt

The 45-page report highlights individual detainees’ cases. One 34-year-old Mexican mother of three said she was arrested at home for failure to appear in court on a petty theft offense. After almost three weeks in detention, she tried to kill herself.

“I started hanging myself,” she said. “Everything started turning dark.”

When the immigration officers found the woman, they handcuffed and transferred her to another cell, according to the report. She was later released on bond and is awaiting a ruling in her case.

Mr. W., who was born in Minnesota, was placed in a Florence, Arizona, detention facility, where he couldn’t get access to his birth certificate. A month’s work in the prison kitchen earned him the $30 he needed to order a copy of the certificate, and he was released.

U.S. Citizens Held

In 2007, legal-service providers discovered as many as 322 people in detention who may be U.S. citizens, the report said.

“Mr. N.,” a Buddhist monk, fled Tibet, where the report said he had been twice tortured for his religious and political beliefs. He arrived in New York, only to be placed in detention for 10 months, according to the report.

In 2007, he received permission to remain in the U.S.

As the ranks of detainees swelled, federal immigration officials paid 350 state and county jails to house people waiting for their hearings. On average, detention costs $95 a day, whereas some alternatives cost as little as $12 a day, the report said.

When authorities allow local groups to take responsibility for the immigrant, 91 percent show up for their hearing, Reynolds said.

Often those locked up have to defend themselves and lack access to a law library, the report said.

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To contact the reporter on this story: Jeff Bliss in Washington jbliss@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 25, 2009 00:01 EDT