Prisoners' Transfer to 'Alcatraz of the Rockies' Halted for Now

Judge rules government didn't give inmates chance to challenge move to high-security facility

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Former death row inmates targeted by President Donald Trump after their sentences were commuted to life in prison won't be moved to a high-security facility known as the 'Alcatraz of the Rockies' just yet. A judge ruled the transfers likely violate the Fifth Amendment's due process clause because officials didn't afford the prisoners a meaningful opportunity to challenge the move.

Why it matters

The decision to halt the transfers highlights concerns over the treatment of prisoners, especially those with high-profile cases, and the need to balance security with due process rights. ADX Florence, known as the 'Alcatraz of the Rockies', is one of the most secure federal prisons in the U.S. and houses some of the country's most dangerous inmates.

The details

The prisoners are likely to win a lawsuit to stop their transfer to ADX Florence—a Colorado facility reserved for maximum custody inmates who can't function in a less-restrictive setting—because the government apparently decided to move them before giving them a meaningful opportunity to challenge the move, Judge Timothy J. Kelly said Wednesday.

  • The ruling was made on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Judge Timothy J. Kelly

The federal judge who ruled that the prisoners are likely to win a lawsuit to stop their transfer to ADX Florence.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who targeted the former death row inmates and sought to have them transferred to the high-security facility.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over prisoner rights and the need to balance security concerns with due process protections, especially for high-profile inmates. The decision to halt the transfers to ADX Florence underscores the importance of providing prisoners a meaningful opportunity to challenge such moves.