Saturday, March 29, 2025
Trump orders reopening of Alcatraz, reviving the iconic island prison as a hardline symbol of justice. The announcement sparked immediate political backlash and legal debate.
On Sunday, former President Donald Trump announced a new directive on Truth Social. He ordered federal agencies to reopen and expand Alcatraz. The island facility, located near San Francisco, once held some of America’s most dangerous criminals.
Trump claimed the country suffers from a surge in violent, repeat offenders. Reopening Alcatraz, he said, would restore “law, order, and justice.”
Alcatraz began as a military fortress. Later, it became a military prison, then a maximum-security federal penitentiary. It housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly. The government shut it down in 1963 due to high operating costs.
Although closed for decades, Alcatraz remains famous through movies like The Rock, Escape from Alcatraz, and Birdman of Alcatraz. Today, it operates as a thriving tourist site.
Legal experts warn the plan faces major obstacles. Professor Gabriel Jack Chin from UC Davis pointed out the declining federal prison population. Many current prisons already have unused capacity.
He also noted the massive cost of rebuilding Alcatraz. Its island location makes operations more expensive than any other facility.
Democrats quickly pushed back. Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes Alcatraz, called it “not a serious proposal.” State Senator Scott Wiener labeled it “deeply unhinged” and “an attack on the rule of law.”
This isn’t Trump’s first controversial move. Earlier, he sent over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador. He has also proposed sending U.S. criminals to foreign jails.
Trump orders reopening of Alcatraz, but experts argue the move is largely symbolic. The idea appeals to tough-on-crime voters, especially during election season. However, practical and political hurdles may block it from becoming reality.
For now, Alcatraz stands as a historic landmark—and a stage for political messaging.
