WASHINGTON, May 5 (Alliance News): U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he is directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to rebuild and reopen the historic Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay to incarcerate what he described as “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared: “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! When we were a more serious Nation, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm.”
Trump later told reporters upon returning to the White House from Florida that reviving the prison was “just an idea I’ve had” and that he now intended to act on it, describing Alcatraz as a “symbol of law and order.”
The original Alcatraz prison, which once housed infamous criminals like Al Capone, was shut down in 1963 due to high operational costs. Located on an island surrounded by cold, treacherous waters, it was considered inescapable, although five inmates are still listed as “missing and presumed drowned.”
Trump said the revamped facility would be “substantially enlarged” and involve coordination between the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed the proposal, calling it unserious. “Alcatraz closed more than sixty years ago. It is now a very popular national park and tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” she posted on X.
Critics have questioned the feasibility of restoring the prison, given its historical status and high operating costs, while supporters argue it could serve as a strong deterrent amid rising crime rates.
