On Sunday, President Trump announced his directive to reopen the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, the iconic prison near San Francisco, which has been inactive for over 60 years.
“Our nation has been troubled for far too long by violent repeat offenders, individuals who are detrimental to society and contribute solely to chaos and suffering. In the past, when our nation had more resolve, we didn’t hesitate to confine the most dangerous criminals far away from those they could harm,” Trump expressed in a Truth Social post.
“This is the approach we must return to. We will no longer accept serial offenders who bring unrest and violence to our communities. Hence, today, I am instructing the Bureau of Prisons, alongside the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen an expanded and modernized Alcatraz to secure America’s most violent and dangerous offenders,” he stated.
The island, which sits less than 2 miles offshore, was first developed in the mid-19th century, with the original structures including a lighthouse.
Notable figures including Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly were once held at Alcatraz, which was a federal prison between 1934 and 1963. The National Park Service, which now oversees its facilities, describes the prison as “the federal government’s response to post-Prohibition, post-Depression America.”
“Both the institution and the men confined within its walls reflect our society during this era,” the National Park Service adds on a webpage about the prison, which was also known as the Rock and gave that name to a popular Michael Bay action film set on the island.
In his Sunday post, Trump said Alcatraz’s “reopening” is going to “serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE.”
“We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he added.
The Bureau of Prisons notes on its website that “USP [United States Penitentiary] Alcatraz closed after 29 years of operation” due to soaring costs.
“An estimated $3-5 million was needed just for restoration and maintenance work to keep the prison open. That figure did not include daily operating costs — Alcatraz was nearly three times more expensive to operate than any other Federal prison,” the bureau says.
