Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen and expand Alcatraz, the iconic former prison located on an island off California’s coast. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the former president said the move is intended to address what he described as a surge in violent and repeat criminal offenders in the U.S.
Trump stated that the revamped Alcatraz would become a “symbol of law, order, and justice” and would be used to detain “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.” Originally shut down in 1963 due to high operating costs, the island currently functions as a popular tourist destination near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
He has directed the Bureau of Prisons, along with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to oversee the reopening and expansion of the facility. The announcement follows recent controversies over Trump’s aggressive stance on crime, including his decision to send over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador and calls to send U.S. criminals abroad.
Alcatraz has a storied history, having housed infamous criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. It gained further notoriety through films like Birdman of Alcatraz and The Rock. Despite its cultural legacy, the prison was deemed unsustainable due to its remote location, making it nearly three times more expensive to operate than other federal facilities.
