US President Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen and significantly expand Alcatraz, the infamous island prison off the coast of California, framing the move as part of a broader crackdown on violent crime.

In a statement shared on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said the decision comes amid what he called a crisis of “vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders” plaguing American communities. Reviving Alcatraz, he said, would serve as a "powerful symbol of law, order, and justice."

Originally a military fort, Alcatraz became a federal prison in the 1930s, known for housing notorious criminals like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. 

It was shut down in 1963 due to high operating costs and now functions as a major tourist destination near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

Trump said he has instructed the Bureau of Prisons, along with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to undertake the prison’s reconstruction. 

The new facility, he said, would hold “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”

The proposal comes amid ongoing controversy over Trump’s approach to crime. He has faced backlash for sending alleged gang members to foreign prisons, including more than 200 Venezuelans to a facility in El Salvador.

Legal experts questioned the need for a new prison. Professor Gabriel Jack Chin of UC Davis School of Law noted that the federal prison population is down by about 25% from its peak, with many existing facilities underused.

Critics swiftly dismissed Trump’s announcement. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi labeled it “not a serious proposal,” while San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener called it “deeply unhinged” and “an attack on the rule of law.”

Despite the political divide, Trump’s move signals a renewed emphasis on hardline criminal justice policies during his second term.

Source: BBC

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