Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen and expand Alcatraz, calling it a symbol of “Law, Order, and JUSTICE.” In a Truth Social post, he revealed that multiple federal agencies would work together to restore the infamous prison, closed since 1963 due to high costs. He suggested it could house illegal migrants and violent offenders.
Trump argued that reopening Alcatraz would help bypass court rulings that limit mass deportations. He also plans to detain up to 30,000 “criminal aliens” at Guantanamo Bay. He criticized judges for being too soft and insisted that America must stop being “held hostage” by repeat offenders.
Alcatraz, located off San Francisco’s coast, once held infamous criminals like Al Capone. Its high maintenance costs led to its closure, but it later gained fame as a tourist site and pop culture icon. The Bureau of Prisons has confirmed it will follow Trump’s directive.
The move has reignited public interest in Alcatraz’s history, including the 1962 escape that became legend. Trump Jr. had previously floated the idea of reopening the prison, leading many to believe he helped shape the current plan.
