NEW: Trump Orders Reopening Of Notorious Alcatraz Prison
President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he will be directing the federal government to reopen and expand the notorious island prison of Alcatraz in California.
“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 wrote in a Truth Social post titled “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!”
Trump went on to say that when “we were a more serious nation,” authorities “did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals” and keep them away from the public.
“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,” the president continued.
“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, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
The post contained a photo of the notorious prison, which is located on a rocky island in the San Francisco Bay.
Located about 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco, the island penitentiary was opened in 1934 in order to house some of the nation’s most notorious criminals. Inmates sent to Alcatraz were particularly those who represented high escape risks, high-profile organized crime figures or those who caused trouble in other prisons.
Notable prisoners housed at the prison included Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Franklin Stroud.
“The Rock” was billed as an inescapable prison when it was constructed, which largely proved true throughout its operational history. Cold, turbulent waters with strong currents surround the island complex, which also sits in shark-infested waters.
Prisoners were also subjected to state of the art security measures for the time period, including constant monitoring, high guard-to-inmate ratios, and strict control of inmate movement. Alcatraz functioned as the time period equivalent to the ADX Florence supermax prison in Colorado.
Between 1934 and 1963, there were 14 known escape attempts involving 36 inmates. Of that number, 23 were recaptured, six were killed during their escape attempts, and two others were confirmed drowned. The most famous escape attempt took place in 1961, when Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin escaped through ventilation shafts using a makeshift raft.
Experts believe the escapees drowned, though their bodies were never recovered, fueling speculation surrounding the escape for decades. The prison was closed a few years after the escape in 1963 and has operated as a tourist site ever since.
Trump’s move to reopen Alcatraz comes as the administration is currently locked in a number of court battles surrounding its deportation policies. Federal judges have temporarily halted the deportations of violent gang members to El Salvador’s supermax prison, particularly concerning the president’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
The White House has been attempting to weave the issue through the court system in hopes of getting a final ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.