Share this @internewscast.com

Key Points
  • United States President Donald Trump says he has directed staff to reopen Alcatraz prison.
  • The infamous prison has been closed for more than 60 years.
  • Alcatraz Island is located approximately 2km off the San Francisco coast.
More than 60 years after Alcatraz closed, United States President Donald Trump has said he is directing his government to reopen and rebuild the former prison for “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders”.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “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.”
“The reopening of Alcatraz will serve as a symbol of law, order, and justice,” he wrote.
Trump’s directive to reopen the former infamous prison marks the latest move in his broader effort to overhaul how and where federal prisoners and immigration detainees are held.

He told reporters over the weekend it was just an idea he had because of “radicalised judges” who want to ensure migrants facing deportation receive due process.

A brief history of Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island, located approximately 2km off the San Francisco coast, has served in different capacities: a military fort (1850s), a military prison (1868), and finally became a federal penitentiary for people convicted of serious crimes (1934–1963).
The California Gold Rush, the resulting boom in San Francisco’s growth, and the need to protect San Francisco Bay led the US Army to build a fortress at the top of the island in the early 1850s.
The prison was a maximum-security, minimum-privilege prison opened to deal with the “most incorrigible inmates in federal prisons”, according to the US Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Considered inescapable due to the strong ocean currents and Pacific Ocean waters that surround it, Alcatraz was known as ‘The Rock’ and housed some of the nation’s most notorious criminals, including gangster Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

Since then, Alcatraz has become a cultural icon and a Hollywood obsession, inspiring filmmakers for decades.

Notable films set in the notorious prison include Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), Escape from Alcatraz (1979) and The Rock (1996), a fictional hostage thriller starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.

It is now one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist destinations, operated by the National Park Service (NPS), and is a designated National Historic Landmark.

Why was Alcatraz shut down?

Despite its reputation, Alcatraz was expensive and impractical to run.
The remote location made everything from food to fresh water dependent on shipments.
In 1963, the then-US attorney-general Robert F Kennedy ordered it closed due to high costs and deteriorating infrastructure.
Six years after the infamous prison closed its doors, hundreds of Native American activists and students occupied Alcatraz Island to raise awareness of continued Native American oppression, according to NPS.

The activists under the banner of the ‘Indians of all tribes’ used Alcatraz as a platform for Indigenous rights. The occupation lasted 19 months and is recognised as a key moment in Native American civil rights history.

Alcatraz as a tourist destination

Today, Alcatraz is one of California’s most popular tourist sites, drawing over 1.4 million visitors annually.
The island features preserved cells, solitary blocks, guard towers, and guided tours led by former correctional officers.
Along with historical exhibits, the island also hosts contemporary art installations and commemorative events that mark its complex past.

 For the latest from SBS News, and .
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Pheobe Bishop

A third individual has been charged in connection with the disappearance and suspected murder of Pheobe Bishop.

A third person has been charged in relation to the disappearance and…

Victoria’s Pioneering Indigenous Truth-Telling Commission Concludes, Revealing Hidden Histories

The nation’s inaugural truth telling inquiry has released its final report, which…
Sean 'Diddy' Combs not guilty of most serious charges in sex trafficking trial

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Cleared of Major Charges in Sex Trafficking Case

Sean “Diddy Combs has been convicted of a prostitution-related offence but acquitted…
Premier Jacinta Allan said the state would build its own register for childcare workers to give families an additional layer of "checks and balances".

Victorian Premier Initiates Immediate Review of Childcare Safety Following Staff Charges

The Victorian government has announced a swift review focused on enhancing childcare…
Elon Musk victory in war on strict Australian web laws

Elon Musk Triumphs Over Australia’s Tough Internet Regulations

“A win for free speech in Australia.”  According to Elon Musk’s lawyers,…
Wild weather smashes Queensland's south-east

Queensland Prepares for Severe Weather as ‘Bomb Cyclone’ Crosses the Border

Residents in south-east Queensland are preparing for a fresh round of wild…
Man hit by car in Mount Pritchard in Sydney's south-west

Partially Sighted Man in Critical Condition After Car Accident Near His Home

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after being hit…
Mobility scooter rider killed after being hit by truck in Melbourne

Tragic Accident: Mobility Scooter User Fatally Struck by Truck in Melbourne

An elderly mobility scooter rider has died after he was hit by…
Kanye West's website has been pulled from the internet.

Kanye West Denied Entry to Australia Due to Latest Song Release

The federal government has stripped controversial rapper Kanye West of his Australian…
32-year-old Omar Haouchar has been charged over the alleged murder plot

Parking Inspector Unintentionally Disrupts Suspected Gang Murder Plan, Court Reveals

A close ally of a deceased drug lord narrowly escaped a police…
Celeb jeweller Michel Germani.

Court Reveals Jewelry Store Owner Planned Fake Robbery Using Employee

An employee at a jewelry store was unexpectedly summoned to work during…
While Tammy Hembrow, 29, has fled Australia for a luxurious family getaway, ex Matt Zukowski, 31, appeared to open his heart to new love following their split

Tammy Hembrow’s former partner Matt Zukowski accidentally reveals he’s ready to ‘date’ again – then quickly retracts his statement

While Tammy Hembrow has fled Australia for a luxurious family getaway, ex…