The notorious prison Alcatraz, known as “the Rock,” was shut down on March 21, 1963, and later transformed into one of San Francisco’s top tourist attractions, attracting 1.5 million visitors every year.
However, President Donald Trump announced on May 4 that he had asked from the Federal Bureau of Prisons to reopen it after over six decades.
Taking to Truth Social, he wrote, “For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
His post continued: “That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.”
While it operated, Alcatraz housed some of the most notorious criminals, such as Al Capone.
Sharing his frustrations with the “radical judges,” who according to Trump are slowing down deportations by insisting on due process, he is outlining a broader strategy to reform how the U.S. detains federal prisoners and immigration offenders, and the decision to reopen Alcatraz is part of it.
“Alcatraz has long been a symbol of law and order. You know, it’s got quite a history,” Trump said.
According to AP, reopening the notorious prison “would likely be an expensive and challenging proposition,” especially because one of the reasons for its closure were the high maintenance costs and the crumbling infrastructure.
Despite that, a Bureau of Prisons’ spokesperson said the agency “will comply with all Presidential Orders.”
Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes the prison, deemed Trump’s proposal “not a serious one” since “[the prison] is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction.”
Trump also directed the opening of a new detention facility at Guantanamo Bay expected to hold up to 30,000 of what he called the “worst criminal aliens.”
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