President Donald Trump announced plans to reopen and expand the notorious Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, directing the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security to undertake the project. The facility, located on an island in San Francisco Bay, has been closed since 1963 due to high operating costs and is currently a popular tourist attraction managed by the National Park Service.
Trump emphasized that the reopening would serve as a symbol of “law, order, and justice,” aiming to house the nation’s “most ruthless and violent offenders.” He criticized the judicial system for being lenient and suggested that the facility could even house judges who impede deportation efforts.
The decision follows recent controversial actions, including the deportation of immigrants to El Salvador and proposals to send U.S. citizens convicted of violent crimes to foreign prisons.
Critics, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have dismissed the plan as impractical and symbolic, pointing out that Alcatraz is a protected national park and historic landmark. The high cost of rebuilding and the logistical challenges of supplying the island are also significant concerns.
