5 hours Ago
"I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, along with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ," Trump wrote. He added that the prison would serve as a "symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE" and help address criminal activities, especially involving undocumented immigrants.
Later that day, speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump clarified that it was "just an idea," sparked by his frustration with what he called "radicalized judges" who insist on legal trials for every undocumented migrant. "That would mean millions of trials," he said.
Trump described Alcatraz as having a "sad" past but added that it also symbolizes law and order. "It's got quite a history, frankly, so I think we're going to do that," he remarked.
Alcatraz Island, located near San Francisco, served as a federal prison for almost 30 years before closing in 1963. According to the Bureau of Prisons, the closure was due to the high cost of operations — it required between $3 million and $5 million in repairs and maintenance alone, not counting daily expenses. At the time, it was almost three times more expensive to run than other federal facilities.
Today, Alcatraz is managed by the National Park Service as a tourist attraction, drawing around 1.2 million visitors annually. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, though such a title can be revoked under certain conditions — like if the qualities that led to the designation no longer exist.
CNN reached out to the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and Bureau of Prisons for official responses but has yet to receive any.
The idea was strongly criticized by California Democrat Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes Alcatraz. "The President's proposal is not a serious one," she said in a post on X. Pelosi emphasized that the prison has been shut down for over 60 years and is now a beloved public site.
Interestingly, Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., also floated the idea days after his father began his second term. After an executive order to send migrants to Guantanamo Bay was signed, Trump Jr. posted, "Now this is a great idea. Maybe we should also reopen Alcatraz?!?!" on X.
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