President Donald Trump has, in a controversial move, ordered the reopening and expansion of Alcatraz, the notorious federal prison on an island in San Francisco Bay. He posted on his Truth Social site that, plans to convert the historic landmark back into a high-security prison to accommodate "America's most ruthless and violent offenders."

"Rebuild and Open Alcatraz": Trump's Latest Tough-On-Crime Move

On Sunday evening, President Trump said he had directed the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security to “reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ.” He added that the new facility would serve as a symbol of “law, order, and justice,” amid what he called a national crisis of “vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders.” The action is part of Trump's overall second-term agenda that includes reinstating extreme sentencing policies, expanding police powers, and deporting both undocumented and some legally present immigrants to foreign detention centers.

Trump shares his plan on Truth, saying "REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets."

"That is why, today, 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. We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges who are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" he added.

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Top Democrats have denounced the plan. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes Alcatraz, labeled the proposal "not a serious one." California State Senator Scott Wiener called it "deeply unhinged" on social media, blaming Trump for eroding the rule of law. Trump’s plan raises questions about legal jurisdiction, as Alcatraz is currently managed by the NPS.

Alcatraz: From Maximum-Security Prison To Tourist Hotspot

Alcatraz Island, where the country's most notorious prisoners once lived, including Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, was shut down in 1963 because it was too expensive to operate. It has since been run by the National Park Service (NPS) and draws more than a million tourists each year. The prison has a reputation not just for housing infamous prisoners and attempts at escaping, but also for being in top movies like Birdman of Alcatraz, Escape from Alcatraz, and The Rock. Reopening Alcatraz would be expensive. The closure in the 1960s was because of the high cost of operations, close to triple that of any other federal prison, primarily because of its remote island location and having to haul in all materials, including water.

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