Trump Orders Reopening and Expansion of Alcatraz Prison

President Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen and significantly expand Alcatraz, the infamous former federal prison on an island in San Francisco Bay.

In a statement posted Sunday on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the move is intended to address what he described as a plague of violent and repeat offenders in the United States.

He called for the prison to serve as a “symbol of law, order, and justice,” and directed the Bureau of Prisons, along with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to oversee the project.

Alcatraz, known as “The Rock,” was once considered the toughest prison in America, housing notorious criminals such as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly before its closure in 1963.

The facility, now a popular tourist attraction managed by the National Park Service, was originally shut down due to high operating costs and its isolated location, which made maintenance nearly three times as expensive as other federal prisons.

Trump’s proposal comes amid his administration’s broader push for tougher crime and immigration policies. He has recently clashed with the courts over efforts to deport alleged gang members to overseas prisons, including a controversial transfer of Venezuelan suspects to El Salvador.

The president has also floated the idea of sending “homegrown criminals” to foreign facilities, drawing criticism from legal experts and political opponents.

The plan to revive Alcatraz has been met with skepticism and opposition from leading Democrats. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes Alcatraz, dismissed the proposal as unserious, while California State Senator Scott Wiener called it “deeply unhinged” and an attack on the rule of law.

Critics also point out that the federal prison system currently has excess capacity, questioning the need for a new or expanded facility.

Alcatraz’s storied past has made it a fixture in American culture, inspiring films such as “Birdman of Alcatraz,” “Escape from Alcatraz,” and “The Rock.”

Trump’s announcement signals an effort to leverage that legacy as part of his administration’s messaging on crime and punishment, though significant logistical and legal hurdles remain before any reopening could occur.