Trump Reignites Plan to Reopen Alcatraz “Surrounded By Sharks”

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday his renewed plan to renovate and reopen Alcatraz as a federal prison. He revealed that “conceptual work” began six months ago. In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Trump described Alcatraz as a potent symbol in the fight against crime, mentioning the presence of sharks around the island. He attributed the need for this move to the “violence and criminality” he associates with President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the president has directed federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons, to explore reopening the facility to house “America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.” Built in 1934 and closed in 1963, Alcatraz once held notorious criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

Despite the president’s enthusiasm, the project faces potential legal and logistical challenges. David Smith, superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the plan due to legal hurdles, high costs, and infrastructure challenges. However, Bureau of Prisons Director William Marshall remains optimistic about the project’s prospects.

CNN reports that Alcatraz is now a major historical landmark and tourist destination. The island’s strategic location and history make it a symbol of law, order, and justice. While Trump suggested surrounding the prison with sharks as a deterrent, marine biologists note that the sharks in San Francisco Bay pose no real obstacle to escape attempts.

The proposal is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to expand immigration detention facilities. President Trump recently toured a new facility in Florida, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The facility, located in the Everglades, is expected to cost $450 million a year and hold around 5,000 people.

Deadline reports that the Trump administration has faced scrutiny for its immigration policies, including plans to reopen a detention facility at Guantánamo Bay. The administration has also been criticized for sending alleged gang members from Venezuela to a mega-prison in El Salvador without due process.