 Built in 1905, under the government of Porfirio Díaz, the prison of las Islas Marías was "the pride of the government" becoming the most modern prison model of its time, "escape proof", which operated as an alternative to house the delinquents, who due to their profile and background, could not be held in the prison of Lecumberri.Until 1950 this prison colony was known as a feared detention center, due to violence, disease, and forced labor.It is calculated that the total number of prisoners to be housed there is above 29,000 .