Alcatraz. Credit: Domingo Saez, Shutterstock
Donald Trump has ordered the reopening and expansion of Alcatraz, the notorious prison off the coast of San Francisco, to detain what he described as “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”
In a detailed message shared on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, May 4, Trump declared, “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets. That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Federal Bureau of Prisons to comply with Alcatraz request
Upon returning to Washington from Florida, Trump told reporters the decision was necessary to restore safety. A spokesperson from the Federal Bureau of Prisons responded: “The Bureau of Prisons will comply with all presidential orders… When we have additional information, we will be happy to provide it to you,” according to Axios, cited by El País.
Alcatraz, also known as “The Rock”, was closed in 1963 due to high maintenance and operating costs. Built originally in the mid-19th century and repurposed in the 1930s by the Department of Justice, it became a federal prison known for housing infamous criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Alcatraz was nearly three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison due to its island location. It would have required $3–5 million for restoration at the time of closure, not including daily running costs.
Legal experts have raised questions about the practicality and cost of reopening the facility. Professor Gabriel Jack Chin from the Davis School of Law at the University of California told the BBC that the federal prison population has dropped by about 25 per cent since its peak, and many facilities currently have vacant beds. “It’s not clear if a new one is needed,” he said, though he noted Alcatraz’s tough image fits Trump’s messaging.
Former House Speaker and California Democrat, Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes Alcatraz, dismissed it as “not a serious one.” California State Senator Scott Wiener went further, calling it “deeply unhinged” and “an attack on the rule of law” in a post on Instagram, cited via BBC News.
Alcatraz remains a popular tourist attraction and cultural icon, depicted in films including Escape from Alcatraz (1979) and The Rock (1996). Whether it will once again serve as a high-security prison remains to be seen.
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