President Donald Trump announced plans on Sunday (May 4) to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous prison located on an island off the coast of San Francisco, to house "America’s most ruthless and violent offenders." Alcatraz, which closed in 1963 due to deteriorating infrastructure and high maintenance costs, is currently a national park and tourist attraction managed by the National Park Service.

Trump's directive involves the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security working together to expand and rebuild the facility. He shared his decision on Truth Social, expressing frustration with "radicalized judges" who demand due process for deported migrants. Trump emphasized the need to isolate dangerous criminals, stating that in the past, the nation did not hesitate to lock them up far from society.

"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. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Alcatraz, known as "The Rock," was a maximum-security prison famous for its inescapability due to the strong currents and cold waters surrounding it. It housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. The prison's history and dramatic escape attempts, such as the 1962 breakout by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers, have been popularized in films like "Escape from Alcatraz."

The proposal has faced criticism, notably from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called it unserious given Alcatraz's current status as a historic landmark. Reopening the prison would require significant investment to meet modern standards, a challenging prospect as the Bureau of Prisons faces scrutiny and budget constraints. Despite this, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons confirmed they would comply with presidential orders.

The order comes amid Trump's broader efforts to reform the incarceration of federal prisoners and immigration detainees, including the controversial opening of a detention center at Guantanamo Bay for illegal immigrants. The feasibility and practicality of reopening Alcatraz remain uncertain, with questions about its future role given the National Park Service's current control of the island.

Michael DelGiorno