Trump directs government to reopen and expand Alcatraz prison

Investing.com -- President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to reopen and upgrade Alcatraz, the notorious former prison located on an island off San Francisco, California. The facility has been closed for over six decades. Trump announced this directive on his Truth Social site on Sunday, stating the move is part of his effort to overhaul the housing of federal prisoners and immigration detainees.

Trump’s post expressed his concern about the issue of repeated criminal offenders in the country, stating that such individuals only contribute to society’s misery and suffering. He added that the nation used to be more serious about keeping dangerous criminals far away from potential victims. He then directed the Bureau of Prisons, along with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt Alcatraz to house the country’s most violent offenders.

However, reopening and upgrading the infamous penitentiary, which was closed in 1963 due to crumbling infrastructure and high operational costs, may pose significant challenges. The prison, known as "The Rock," is surrounded by the cold Pacific waters and strong ocean currents, making it notoriously inescapable. The Bureau of Prisons would need to make massive investments to bring the facility up to modern-day standards, especially at a time when it has been closing prisons due to similar infrastructure issues.

Alcatraz was home to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly. During its 29 years of operation, 36 men attempted 14 separate escapes, nearly all of whom were caught or did not survive. The fate of three inmates, John Anglin, his brother Clarence, and Frank Morris, remains a topic of debate and was dramatized in the 1979 film "Escape from Alcatraz."

Today, Alcatraz Island is a major tourist site operated by the National Park Service and is a designated National Historic Landmark. Trump’s directive to reopen Alcatraz signifies his commitment to law, order, and justice, as he stated in his post, "The reopening of Alcatraz will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

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