Donald Trump wants to reopen Alcatraz – ‘America needs a tougher prison for its worst offenders’
The former president says the iconic island prison should be rebuilt to house “the most ruthless and violent offenders” — but critics call the plan unrealistic and extreme.
Donald Trump is proposing to reopen and expand Alcatraz prison, saying the U.S. needs a high-security facility to deal with the country’s most dangerous criminals and immigrants.
Alcatraz Island, just off the coast of San Francisco, was once home to America’s most feared federal prison. Nicknamed “The Rock,” it housed infamous criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. But in 1963, after years of crumbling infrastructure and high maintenance costs, the prison was shut down.
Since then, Alcatraz has become a major tourist attraction, welcoming over a million visitors each year. It’s run by the National Park Service and is known for its historic tours and dramatic views of San Francisco Bay.
But if Trump gets his way, the sightseeing could be replaced with sirens and steel bars once again.
Trump’s bold plan: Reopen and expand Alcatraz
On Sunday night, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, calling for the prison to be rebuilt and used to detain what he called “the dregs of society.”
“When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals… That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
He said the revived prison would be used to hold repeat offenders, violent criminals, and dangerous immigrants as part of a larger plan to tighten law enforcement and immigration control. Trump also accused “radicalized judges” of making it harder to deport people, saying a facility like Alcatraz could help bypass that.
Is it even possible?
Rebuilding Alcatraz won’t be easy. The island’s buildings are over 60 years old, damaged by weather and time. It’s also part of a protected national park, making any construction highly restricted.
A spokesperson from the Bureau of Prisons said they would follow any presidential orders but didn’t confirm whether it was actually feasible. Experts note that the U.S. has recently closed some prisons to save money, not build new ones.
Not everyone is taking Trump’s proposal seriously.
Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, whose district includes Alcatraz, was quick to criticize the idea.
“It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Others online mocked the idea, with some calling it “political theater” and others comparing it to dystopian fiction. However, some of Trump’s supporters praised the plan, saying it showed he was serious about restoring law and order.
Trump’s call to reopen Alcatraz is part of a broader crackdown strategy. He recently suggested sending accused gang members to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison and wants to build a new detention center at Guantanamo Bay for up to 30,000 “criminal aliens.”
Critics say these plans ignore legal due process and could violate human rights. Supporters argue that extreme crimes require extreme responses.
Whether Alcatraz ever holds prisoners again is still uncertain. For now, it remains a place where tourists snap photos in empty cells. But Trump’s announcement shows he’s once again turning to bold, controversial ideas to make headlines and rally his base.
