President of the United States Donald Trump instructed correctional authorities on Sunday to reopen Alcatraz Prison, located in San Francisco Bay.
“The reopening of Alcatraz will stand as a symbol of law, order, and justice”
“Rebuild and reopen Alcatraz!” Trump wrote on his social network, Truth Social. “For far too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, repeat offenders who bring nothing but pain and suffering. In the past, when we were a more serious nation, we didn’t hesitate to imprison the most dangerous criminals—to keep them far away from the people they could harm. That’s how it should be. We will no longer tolerate these serial offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and chaos in our streets.”
Trump stated that the purpose of reopening the prison is “to house America’s most brutal and violent criminals. We will no longer be hostages to criminals, bullies, and judges who are too afraid to do their jobs and let us expel offenders who entered our country illegally. The reopening of Alcatraz will stand as a symbol of law, order, and justice.”
Closed in 1963, now a tourist site
Alcatraz Prison, also known as “The Rock,” was a federal maximum-security facility located on an island in San Francisco Bay, California. It was designed to house the most dangerous criminals in the United States. The prison was recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as “the most secure prison in the world.”
Alcatraz Island initially served as a military base and U.S. Army prison between 1850 and 1933, thanks to its remote and strategic location. Over time, it became a financial burden. In 1934, it was transferred to federal control and converted into a civilian prison. The facility was closed in 1963 due to high maintenance costs and environmental pollution from waste discharged into the sea.
Escape attempts
Over its 29 years of operation, the prison recorded 14 escape attempts involving 36 inmates. Most were caught, shot dead, drowned, or surrendered during their attempt. Only five were classified as missing, but it’s believed they did not survive the cold, turbulent waters of the bay.
The most famous escape occurred on June 11, 1962. On that day, three inmates—Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin—vanished from their cells, leaving behind an improvised raft made of raincoats. Despite a large-scale manhunt, they were never found. In 2018, a letter surfaced, allegedly from one of the escapees, claiming they had survived. The letter was never verified.
The escape inspired the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz, which immortalized their story.
