Trump to reopen infamous Alcatraz prison to cage "dregs of society" once again

President Donald Trump has directed his administration to reopen and expand the infamous Alcatraz prison, calling for the island facility to once again house what he described as the “dregs of society.”

The move, announced Sunday, would mark the first time in over six decades that the former federal penitentiary, now a National Historic Landmark and tourist destination, would be used to detain prisoners.

“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that the revamped prison would serve as a "symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE."

The president ordered the Bureau of Prisons, along with the FBI, Department of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security, to begin work on reopening the isolated facility in San Francisco Bay. He described the new Alcatraz as “substantially enlarged and rebuilt,” aimed at detaining hardened, repeat offenders far from the general public.

But the plan may face serious logistical and legal challenges. Alcatraz, shuttered in 1963 due to high operating costs and deteriorating infrastructure, is now run by the National Park Service and draws more than a million visitors each year. The island's isolation, once a deterrent for escapees, also made it prohibitively expensive to supply.

Once home to infamous criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Alcatraz has been immortalized in films like The Rock and Escape from Alcatraz. During its 29-year operation, 36 inmates attempted to escape; nearly all were either captured or presumed drowned.