President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to reopen Alcatraz Island as an active federal prison, turning the historic site back into what he calls “a symbol of strength and consequence.”
Speaking at a rally in Arizona earlier this week, Trump told supporters he intends to use the infamous facility to detain “the worst of the worst,” including individuals convicted of violent crimes, drug trafficking, and “deep state treason.”
Trump also reiterated his plans on his Truth Social platform.
“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. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm,” Trump wrote.
“That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets. That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders,” he added.
The comments sparked an immediate backlash from historians, legal experts and criminal justice advocates, many calling the plan unworkable, unconstitutional and blatantly theatrical.
Alcatraz, which operated as a maximum-security federal prison from 1934 to 1963, once housed some of the country’s most notorious criminals and mob bosses—including Al Capone and Robert “The Birdman” Stroud. Since its closure, the island has become a major tourist destination and has featured or been depicted in books, documentaries and Hollywood projects for decades.
According to internal memos, Trump’s team has already floated logistical discussions with the National Park Service and private contractors regarding the feasibility of reviving the crumbling infrastructure.
His plans have sparked concerns as Trump recently expressed his desire to deport U.S.-born citizens if they are affiliated with what he calls “radical ideologies.” Trump recently claimed that specific “homegrown threats” are more dangerous than foreign actors and floated the idea of stripping citizenship from individuals who “hate America” or engage in protests he deems unpatriotic.
US President Donald Trump has ordered officials to re-open and expand the infamous Alcatraz prison.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 5, 2025
The federal jail held notorious US criminals on a rocky island in California’s San Francisco Bay, before it was closed in 1963. pic.twitter.com/B5nV1MhDZh
Critics argue the plan is detached from reality, while civil liberties organizations have condemned the proposal as another escalation in Trump’s rhetoric around crime and punishment. The ACLU released a statement calling the idea “a chilling sign of how this campaign is flirting with fascist nostalgia.”
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons also issued a statement to The Associated Press, noting that the agency “will comply with all Presidential Orders.”
