Historic Prison on San Francisco Island to Be Restored
President Trump announced on Sunday that he has directed the FBI to reopen the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, the iconic prison located on an island off San Francisco. The historic prison, known for housing some of the most dangerous criminals, has been closed since 1963.
“REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” Trump declared on his social media platform, Truth Social. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding the nation by isolating dangerous criminals from society, a practice he believes was more prevalent in the past.
Alcatraz, once considered one of the world’s most secure prisons, was shut down due to its high operational costs, which were three times higher than other federal prisons. Notorious inmates like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly were among those held at the facility.
In a daring escape attempt in 1962, three prisoners managed to flee Alcatraz by placing decoys in their beds and climbing out through rooftop vents. Despite its intriguing history, Alcatraz has been under the ownership of the National Park Service since 1972.
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, responsible for managing the island, has not yet issued a statement regarding the decision to reopen the prison.
