President Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen and expand the historic Alcatraz prison to detain “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.” In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump directed the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security to rebuild the facility, which closed in 1963 due to high operating costs. He described Alcatraz as a symbol of law and order, asserting that the move addresses the nation’s struggle with repeat criminal offenders.
Critics, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, dismissed the proposal as impractical, noting Alcatraz’s current status as a national park and tourist attraction. Legal experts suggest that reopening the prison could face significant legal challenges and require extensive renovations.
Alcatraz, located on an island in San Francisco Bay, operated as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963, housing notorious criminals like Al Capone. It is now managed by the National Park Service and attracts over a million visitors annually.
Trump’s announcement aligns with his administration’s broader efforts to implement stricter criminal justice policies and immigration enforcement