Washington: In a surprising announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump said he has directed several federal agencies to reconstruct and reopen Alcatraz, the infamous island prison off the coast of California that has been closed since 1963.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed the newly rebuilt Alcatraz would house some of the nation’s most dangerous criminals and violent offenders.
Trump stated that the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security would collaborate on reviving the facility, which he promised would be expanded and modernized. The move is part of his broader plan to reshape the federal incarceration system, especially in response to frustrations over legal obstacles in deporting suspected criminals and gang members.
The president has also suggested, controversially, that American citizens convicted of violent crimes could be sent to El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison—an idea that legal experts say is likely unconstitutional.
Speaking to reporters upon returning from Florida, Trump admitted the Alcatraz initiative stemmed from personal frustrations with “radicalized judges” who uphold due process rights for detainees. He called the prison a “symbol of law and order.”
This comes shortly after Trump questioned whether due process rights—guaranteed under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution—apply to individuals within the United States.
Alcatraz, once deemed the most secure prison in the country due to its isolated island location and treacherous surrounding waters, was operational for 29 years. Though several escape attempts were made, none were officially deemed successful. The facility was shut down due to high maintenance costs and deteriorating conditions. It has since become a major tourist destination and National Historic Landmark managed by the National Park Service.
Prominent critics, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, dismissed Trump’s idea as unrealistic. Pelosi, whose district includes the island, pointed out that Alcatraz is now a cherished cultural site. “The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” she said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The cost of reviving the prison could be enormous, especially at a time when the Bureau of Prisons has been closing outdated facilities due to similar concerns.
