Trump Says He Plans to Reopen Alcatraz Prison

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday his intention to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the infamous former federal prison on an island off San Francisco, which has been closed since 1963.

In a Truth Social post, Trump stated:

“That is why, today,” he said “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.”

A Symbol of Law and Order

Trump described Alcatraz as a “symbol of law and order,” emphasizing its historical reputation as “The Rock,” an inescapable facility that once held notorious criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

The directive aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to reform federal incarceration and immigration detention policies, including controversial proposals to send alleged gang members to foreign prisons, such as El Salvador’s maximum-security facility.

Logistical and Financial Hurdles

Reopening Alcatraz poses significant challenges.

The prison was shuttered in 1963 due to its deteriorating infrastructure and high operational costs, which were nearly three times those of other federal prisons. Everything from food to fuel had to be transported by boat to the remote island.

Modernizing the facility would require substantial investment, especially as the Bureau of Prisons has recently closed other facilities to cut costs.

Professor Gabriel Jack Chin from the University of California, Davis School of Law noted that it would take an enormous amount of money to make Alcatraz into a functioning prison.

Skepticism from Critics

Critics have questioned the feasibility and intent of Trump’s plan.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes Alcatraz, stated, “It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one.”

San Francisco’s Democratic state senator, Scott Wiener, called the idea “deeply unhinged” and “an attack on the rule of law.”

Currently, Alcatraz operates as a National Historic Landmark managed by the National Park Service, drawing thousands of tourists annually.

Bureau of Prisons’ Response

A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson confirmed that the agency “will comply with all Presidential Orders,” but provided no further details on the practicality of reopening Alcatraz or navigating the National Park Service’s control of the island.

With the federal prison system already operating below capacity, the necessity of a new high-security facility remains under scrutiny.