President Donald Trump has pledged to rebuild and reopen Alcatraz as a maximum-security prison to house violent offenders and undocumented immigrants. He announced this plan on Truth Social, saying it would symbolize “Law, Order, and JUSTICE.” Trump has instructed the Bureau of Prisons to work with the DOJ, FBI, and Homeland Security to enlarge and renovate the facility.
Alcatraz, famous for housing criminals like Al Capone, was closed in 1963 due to high costs and difficult logistics, such as transporting water to the island. It was nearly three times more expensive to operate than other federal prisons. The island now serves as a popular tourist site.
Trump’s plan also includes building a prison in Guantanamo Bay for up to 30,000 dangerous criminal aliens. He criticized the courts for blocking his efforts to deport illegal migrants and gang members and suggested that Alcatraz could also be used if legal issues arise.
The Bureau of Prisons said it will comply with any presidential orders. Trump’s eldest son, Don Jr., had previously suggested reopening Alcatraz.
Alcatraz is known for its tough conditions and infamous escape attempts, including the 1962 breakout where three inmates vanished and were never found. Today, it is a historic landmark visited by over 1.5 million people annually.