Trump Proposes Reopening Alcatraz Prison for America’s ‘Most Ruthless Offenders’.

By Caroline Ameh

President Donald Trump has announced a controversial plan to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous island prison off the coast of San Francisco, to house what he describes as the nation’s “most ruthless and violent offenders.”

In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Sunday evening, Trump criticized what he called the leniency of modern criminal justice, asserting that the U.S. needs to “lock up the most dangerous criminals” in a facility that keeps them far from society.

“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,” Trump said.

The proposal is part of Trump’s broader push to revamp the federal prison and immigration detention systems. However, it has already drawn skepticism from political opponents and logistical experts alike.

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was officially shut down in 1963 due to deteriorating infrastructure and high operational costs, including the expense of transporting supplies by boat. Since then, it has become a prominent tourist attraction operated by the National Park Service and is designated as a national historic landmark.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose congressional district includes the island, dismissed Trump’s proposal as unworkable and politically motivated. “It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Reopening the facility would require substantial investment to modernize it and bring it up to current prison standards. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has been closing other facilities due to similar infrastructure challenges.

Alcatraz, often referred to as “the Rock,” once held notorious criminals such as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Its location—surrounded by frigid, fast-moving Pacific waters—made it nearly impossible to escape. During its 29 years of operation, 36 inmates made 14 escape attempts; most were caught or perished.

Trump’s call to revive the prison comes amid rising political rhetoric around crime and punishment, as he continues to shape the Republican platform ahead of the 2024 election.