The News National
US President Donald Trump has said that he has directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to reopen and expand the infamous Alcatraz prison in the San Francisco Bay, in order for it to “house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said that “for too long America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders,” adding the Alcatraz prison would serve as a “symbol of law, order, and justice.”
Before its closure in 1963, the notorious Alcatraz prison was known to house infamous US criminals such as Al Capone. But since its closure, the prison has become one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist destinations.
While returning to the White House from Florida, Trump told reporters that reopening Alcatraz prison was “just an idea” he had and decided to act upon it.
Alcatraz prison had the feature of being America’s most secured jail, considering the location of the island, frigid waters and strong currents. According to a Reuters report, Alcatraz prison officially never faced an issue of prisoners escaping, however, five prisoners are reported to be “missing and presumed drowned.”
Alcatraz is situated near Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Trump, in the Truth Social post added, “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.”
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As per the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website, the Alcatraz prison was shut in 1963 as it was too expensive to continue operating due to the island’s location.
In a post on X, former House speaker and Democrat Nancy Pelosi took a jibe at President Trump’s plan to reopen Alcatraz.
Pelosi said “Alcatraz closed as a federal penitentiary more than sixty years ago. It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one.”
