Donald Trump wants to reopen Alcatraz and reveals who will be sent there
Revitalizing Alcatraz
Alcatraz stands as perhaps the most famous prison globally — yet today, it focuses more on photos than incarceration. The former jail has become one of San Francisco's prime tourist attractions, welcoming roughly 1.5 million guests annually who explore the cells, listen to tales of ghosts, and picture life in confinement.
The well-known 1962 breakout, when three inmates disappeared into the darkness and were never discovered, caused political uproar. With decaying structures and enormous upkeep expenses, federal officials finally closed it on March 21, 1963.
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Donald Trump appears to have an affection — possibly even a yearning — for the famous island. He now advocates not just reopening but enlarging Alcatraz.
In a statement on his Truth Social profile Sunday night, Trump wrote:
"America has long suffered from brutal, aggressive, and persistent Criminal Offenders, the lowest members of society, who will only ever bring Pain and Distress. When our nation showed greater seriousness in earlier times, we readily imprisoned the most dangerous lawbreakers, and kept them isolated from anyone they might hurt. This is how things should work."
He added:
"Therefore, today, I am instructing the Bureau of Prisons, along with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reestablish a greatly expanded and modernized ALCATRAZ, to contain America's most savage and violent Criminals."
Element of a wider strategy
Trump says his choice forms part of his larger initiative to reform how the U.S. holds federal prisoners and immigration detainees. After spending a weekend in Florida, Trump came back to Washington Sunday evening and expressed his anger about "radicalized judges" who, he states, are delaying deportations by requiring due process.
"Alcatraz has always represented law and order. It has quite a history," Trump stated.
Restoring the famous island jail will not be simple or inexpensive, according to AP. As noted, Alcatraz shut down in 1963, mainly because of extremely high operational costs and failing infrastructure. In fact, the Bureau of Prisons has closed facilities for similar reasons recently.
Nevertheless, a Bureau of Prisons representative said the agency "will follow all Presidential Orders."
"Not a serious proposal"
However, they refused to answer additional questions from the Associated Press about whether reopening Alcatraz is practically or legally possible, particularly since the National Park Service now controls the island.
Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who represents the district including Alcatraz, openly criticized Trump's proposal.
"It is now a very popular national park and major tourist destination. The President's suggestion is not realistic," she posted on X.
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Trump's directive comes amid his increasing tough talk on immigration. He recently suggested moving suspected gang members to a high-security prison in El Salvador — without proper legal procedures — and mentioned the controversial possibility of transferring U.S. inmates to CECOT, a Salvadoran facility for confining terrorists.
In a similarly harsh approach, Trump has also ordered the creation of a new detention center at Guantanamo Bay, intended to hold up to 30,000 of what he termed the "most dangerous criminal foreigners."
Whether prisoners will ever return to Alcatraz remains unclear — but certainly Trump aims to restore law and order with force. Does reopening Alcatraz represent a wise step toward reinstating justice — or a frightening publicity move better left in history books?
