Trump Advocates for Reopening Alcatraz to Accommodate ‘Most Ruthless and Violent Offenders’ | US News
US President Donald Trump has proposed the reopening of the infamous Alcatraz prison.
In a message on his social media platform Truth Social, Mr. Trump stated that America is “suffering from vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders.”
He emphasized that when the United States was “a more serious nation,” it “did not shy away from incarcerating the most dangerous criminals.”
“Therefore, I am instructing the Bureau of Prisons, alongside the Department of Justice, the FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a significantly expanded and reconstructed Alcatraz to accommodate America’s most brutal and violent offenders,” he declared.
Mr. Trump noted that the reopening of the San Francisco facility would “symbolize law, order, and justice.”
This latest announcement follows his recent decision to dismiss national security adviser Mike Waltz in a significant shake-up of his administration.
US President Donald Trump addressing reporters on Sunday. Pic: AP
Alcatraz was notoriously escape-proof, with 36 men attempting 14 different escape attempts during its 29 years of operation, as reported by the FBI.
The majority of escapees were either apprehended or perished in their attempts.
The prison was home to some of the most infamous American criminals, including Al Capone and George Kelly.
It has also inspired several films, including The Rock, featuring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.
Alcatraz Island. File pic: AP
Today, Alcatraz Island, surrounded by strong ocean currents and chilly Pacific waters, serves as a prominent tourist destination managed by the National Park Service.
The prison was shut down in 1963 due to deteriorating infrastructure and excessive repair costs.
A representative from the Bureau of Prisons confirmed their commitment to “adhere to all presidential directives.”
Currently, the Bureau oversees 16 high-security prisons, including a maximum-security facility in Florence, Colorado, and another in Terre Haute, Indiana, which contains the federal death chamber.
In recent years, the United States’ federal law enforcement agency has faced increased scrutiny following Jeffrey Epstein‘s suicide in a federal jail in New York City in 2019.
