Topline
President Donald Trump said he has directed his administration to rebuild and reopen a “substantially enlarged version of the Alcatraz Prison, which was closed in 1963 after government officials determined that the island prison was too expensive to operate.
President Trump said he has ordered the rebuilding and reopening of the infamous Alcatraz Prison of … More
Key Facts
In a post on his Truth Social platform late on Sunday, Trump wrote: “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” arguing that for “too long” America has been “plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering.”
The president said the country did not hesitate to lock up the “most dangerous criminals” and keep them “far away” from people they could harm, “when we were a more serious Nation, in times past.”
Trump said he is ordering the Bureau of Prisons to work with the Justice Department, FBI and Department of Homeland Security to “reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ.”
The reopened prison will house “America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders,” and “serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE,” Trump said.
Trump’s post also attacked judges who have blocked his efforts to deport migrants under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, saying, “We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals.”
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When And Why Was Alcatraz Prison Shut Down?
After being operational for nearly three decades, the island prison was shut down in 1963. On its website, the Bureau of Prisons says the move to shut the prison was not influenced by the infamous escape attempt by three inmates in 1962, as the decision had already been made before that. The Bureau notes that the primary factor was cost, as the federal penitentiary “was too expensive to continue operating.” The Bureau notes that an estimated $3-5 million was needed at the time to complete necessary restoration and maintenance work at time. In addition to this Alcatraz was “nearly three times more expensive to operate than any other Federal prison.”
How Have Trump Administration Officials Reacted?
“The Bureau of Prisons will comply with all Presidential Orders,” a spokesperson told several outlets. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, reposted Trump’s comments on X and wrote: “We’re on it.”
