Trump Proposes Reopening Iconic Alcatraz as a High-Security Prison
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump announced plans to resurrect and expand Alcatraz, the infamous facility located on an island near San Francisco that ceased operations over 60 years ago.
On Sunday evening, Trump shared on his Truth Social platform that the country has long been beleaguered by violent and persistent offenders, whom he labeled as “the dregs of society.” He expressed that in the past, America did not hesitate to confine its most dangerous criminals to remote locations, stating, “That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
Trump continued, declaring his intention for the Bureau of Prisons, in collaboration with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to refurbish and reopen Alcatraz as a secure facility for the nation’s most dangerous offenders.
This directive marks Trump’s latest attempt at reforming the nation’s approach to incarceration of federal prisoners and immigration detainees. However, reviving such an undertaking would likely prove costly and logistically complex. Alcatraz was originally shut down in 1963 due to deteriorating facilities and prohibitive maintenance costs, largely because supplies had to be shipped by boat to the island.
Revamping the prison to meet contemporary standards would require a significant financial investment, especially as the Bureau of Prisons has recently been closing facilities for similar infrastructural challenges. Alcatraz, once deemed inescapable due to its surrounding turbulent waters and cold current, housed notorious figures like Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly. It remains a cultural staple, having inspired movies like “The Rock,” starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.
Trump portrayed Alcatraz as a beacon of order and directed criticism towards “radicalized judges” who demand due process for deportees. The Bureau of Prisons has stated it “will comply with all Presidential Orders.”
Despite the bold proposal, skepticism abounds. Detractors question the practicality of reopening a historical site that now serves as a popular tourist attraction.