Sen. Dick Durbin introduced legislation Thursday that would limit the number of immigrants that Immigration and Customs Enforcement can hold in solitary confinement.

"There's virtually no accountability when it comes to these detainees," said the Illinois Democrat, who is the minority whip. "We're setting strict standards here, and it's about time."

The move follows bipartisan criticism of ICE's use of solitary for immigrant detainees held in jails around the country in response to an NBC News investigation of the practice in partnership with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and the Intercept.

An ICE detainee lies in his cell in the segregation wing at the Adelanto immigration detention center, which is run by the Geo Group Inc (GEO.N), in Adelanto, California on April 13, 2017. Lucy Nicholson / Reuters file

"People have to understand that solitary confinement isn't just a bad day," Durbin said. "It can be a bad life experience than can have impacts on a person's mental health for a long time."

The investigation found detainees have been put in solitary confinement simply because they suffered from physical disabilities and needed a prosthetic leg, a cane or a wheelchair, according to ICE records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Detainees with mental illnesses were put in solitary, often for weeks or months. LGBT detainees were also routinely put in isolation solely because of their sexual orientation.

Disciplinary violations were the reason for solitary confinement only half the time, according to the data. ICE has put detainees in isolation thousands of times since record-keeping began in 2013 and agency records showed a 15.2 percent increase in placements in solitary confinement during the first 15 months of the Trump administration.

"When we're talking about detainees through ICE, they are largely invisible and never heard from," said Durbin. "It doesn't surprise me as we look at the record here that some of them have been terribly mistreated."

Durbin's bill would limit the number of days detainees could be kept in solitary confinement. It would also grant them longer breaks each day, with at least four hours outside of their cells, in contrast to the current one-hour allowance. It calls for greater access to mental health services, lawyers, other detainees and clergy.

The legal standard for who can be put in isolation for disciplinary reasons would be tightened to those who pose "a substantial and immediate threat" and cannot be relocated to other housing.

In addition, Durbin's bill sets up new oversight of the practice. ICE facilities would be subject to greater review of when they use solitary confinement. They would need to submit weekly reports tracking every instance of isolation. Detention center staff would also undergo training for handling detainees with mental health issues.

Joining Durbin as cosponsors of the bill are fellow Democratic senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, both 2020 contenders, and Brian Schatz.

Several other senators have reacted publicly to the NBC News investigative series, which launched in May.

In July, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote a joint letter with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to ICE calling for greater oversight of solitary confinement. Blumenthal separately called for Senate hearings.

Two other Democratic senators, Booker and Elizabeth Warren — another 2020 contender — have also raised concerns. Warren has asked ICE a series of questions, while Booker, a member of the Senate committee that oversees ICE, has called for hearings.