Trump wants to reopen Alcatraz: Why America's most notorious prison 'The Rock' is back in spotlight

File photo of prison cells pictured inside Alcatraz on San Francisco Bay in California. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump this weekend said he had directed officials to rebuild and reopen Alcatraz prison, the notorious federal jail based on a small island in California that closed six decades ago and once held America's most dangerous criminals.

"REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"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 said.

Alcatraz Island, often called “The Rock,” sits in the middle of San Francisco Bay, about 1.25 miles from the mainland. From 1934 to 1963, it operated as a federal penitentiary designed to house the most dangerous and incorrigible criminals in the American justice system. Its isolation, frigid waters, and strong currents made escape nearly impossible—at least in theory.

Among its most famous inmates were mob boss Al “Scarface” Capone, murderer Robert “The Birdman” Stroud, and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. These were men whose notoriety outpaced the reach of traditional prisons. Alcatraz was built not just to incarcerate but to break the will of those who had challenged the system itself.

Prisoners at Alcatraz lived under a strict code: silence, routine, and psychological control. Despite having basic amenities like food, clothing, and medical care, the daily monotony and lack of socialization took a toll on inmates. Alcatraz wasn’t just a prison—it was a warning.

The island fortress entered American cultural lore after a 1962 escape by three inmates, notably Frank Morris, which became an inspiration for the film "Escape from Alcatraz" starring Clint Eastwood.

It was closed on March 21, 1963, soon after the escape, because it was three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison, according to the Bureau of Prisons.

The major expenses were caused by the physical isolation of the island, with food, supplies, fuel and even drinking water having to be brought to the island every week.

Besides the operating costs, an estimated $3 million-$5 million more was needed just for maintenance and restoration work, the Bureau of Prisons said.

It reopened to the public in 1973 as a tourist site, bringing in more than one million visitors each year.

Throughout his political career, Trump has often portrayed himself as a crusader against lawlessness—whether it’s illegal immigration, urban crime, or foreign cartels. In his first term, he reinstated federal executions, pushed for militarized border control, and emphasized punitive justice over rehabilitation.

In that context, Alcatraz fits neatly into Trump’s ideological framework. Reopening it could be seen as both a symbolic gesture and a potential policy pivot—perhaps toward stricter penalties for federal crimes, high-profile incarcerations, or a renewed war on drugs.

"It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction," said former speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who represents San Francisco.

"The President's proposal is not a serious one," she said on social media platform X.

Trump has vowed to crack down on crime, particularly by migrants, and has invoked the 1798 Enemies Act -- previously used only during wartime -- to deport those his administration say are criminals and gang members.

His administration has paid El Salvador millions of dollars to lock up scores of migrants it deported there, with Trump also repeatedly saying he would be open to sending US citizens convicted of violent crimes to the Central American country.

UN experts said last week that the United States appears to be intentionally denying due process rights to more than 250 Venezuelans and Salvadorans who were deported.