President Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen and expand the historic Alcatraz prison, designating the facility as a new home for what he described as “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”
The announcement came via a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform late Sunday, where he criticized what he called leniency toward repeat violent criminals and promised tougher measures. “For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders—the dregs of society,” he wrote. “They bring only misery and suffering.”
Trump stated that he had directed the Bureau of Prisons, in coordination with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to “reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt Alcatraz” to isolate the most dangerous individuals from the public.
Located on an isolated island in San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was originally closed in 1963 due to its deteriorating infrastructure and high operational costs, as all supplies had to be transported by boat.
Reopening the infamous prison would mark a major shift in U.S. federal incarceration policy, aligning with Trump’s broader push for tougher crime measures and immigration enforcement. However, reviving the facility would pose significant logistical and financial challenges.
Critics argue that the move could cost taxpayers heavily and question its effectiveness in addressing crime long-term.
Trump delivered these remarks while addressing graduating students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on May 1, a day before commencement ceremonies.
The proposal has already sparked debate among lawmakers and legal experts, with further details expected from federal agencies in the coming weeks.
