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US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he has instructed federal agencies to reconstruct and reopen Alcatraz, the infamous island prison off the coast of San Francisco, as part of a tough-on-crime initiative aimed at housing the country’s most violent offenders.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump declared: “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” and said he had directed the Bureau of Prisons, along with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, and the FBI, to rebuild and expand the long-defunct facility.
Originally closed in 1963 due to excessive costs, Alcatraz held some of America’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone, during its 29 years of operation. The facility’s remote island location made it expensive to maintain, with the need to ship in food, water, and fuel weekly. The prison was ultimately shuttered and repurposed as a tourist destination in the 1970s.
Trump is seeking to frame the move as a return to a “more serious” approach to crime, arguing that dangerous offenders should be kept isolated from society. “No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets,” he wrote.
He tied the initiative to his broader campaign promise of cracking down on crime, particularly offences committed by migrants, and reiterated his intention to use measures like the 1798 Enemies Act to expel individuals accused of gang activity or violent behaviour.
Critics Dismiss the Plan as Political Posturing
Trump’s statement immediately drew criticism, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who represents San Francisco, calling the proposal unserious. “It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction,” she posted on X, pointing out that Alcatraz welcomes over a million visitors annually and is a treasured part of the city’s cultural history.
Alcatraz’s closure over six decades ago was driven by the financial burden of operating such an isolated facility. According to the Bureau of Prisons, costs were roughly triple those of other federal institutions, with even routine upkeep requiring an additional $3 to $5 million at the time.
Despite the logistical and financial impracticalities, Trump remains adamant. He has previously funded detention facilities in El Salvador to house deported migrants and suggested he would consider sending US citizens convicted of violent crimes abroad.
UN experts recently criticised the US for allegedly denying legal rights to hundreds of deported Venezuelan and Salvadoran nationals, saying such actions appeared to be part of a broader effort to bypass international legal standards.
