In a dramatic and controversial policy statement, former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to revive and substantially expand the infamous Alcatraz prison, located off the coast of San Francisco. The statement was made via his Truth Social account on Sunday.
Trump declared, “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 serve as the holding facility for what he described as “the most ruthless and violent offenders” in the United States.
Speaking to journalists at the White House following a weekend visit to Florida, Trump elaborated that the proposal was “just an idea I’ve had”, citing growing concerns over what he referred to as “radicalized judges” who continue to grant constitutional protections to individuals facing deportation or violent crime charges.
According to a report by Al Jazeera, the move is part of Trump’s broader campaign to project a hardline stance on crime and immigration, even as his administration faces legal scrutiny over its application of an 18th-century wartime law used to justify deportations without due process.
Trump also reiterated a previously controversial idea—suggesting that some violent criminals could be transferred to a maximum-security facility in El Salvador, known as CECOT. Legal experts have widely criticized such proposals, citing constitutional guarantees under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, which protect due process and equal protection under the law.
Alcatraz, originally opened in 1934 and decommissioned in 1963, is widely regarded as one of the most secure prisons in American history due to its isolated island location and treacherous surrounding waters. While 36 inmates attempted escape in 14 separate incidents, none were ever officially successful; five prisoners are still listed as “missing and presumed drowned.”
The prison was ultimately closed due to its deteriorating infrastructure and the exceptionally high cost of operations—nearly three times that of other federal facilities at the time.
Today, Alcatraz is a National Historic Landmark managed by the National Park Service. It draws more than one million tourists annually and remains a symbol of both American penal history and pop culture fascination.
However, Trump’s proposal to restore its original function has stirred strong reactions. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat representing the district that includes Alcatraz, firmly rejected the idea. “It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
As public discourse intensifies, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s vision will be pursued through formal legislative or executive channels—or remain a politically charged campaign statement.
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