Trump says ‘conceptual’ work to reopen Alcatraz as federal prison already underway

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — President Donald Trump has again breached the topic of reactivating Alcatraz as a federal prison, claiming that “conceptual work” is already underway. The president revisited the idea in a rambling post on Truth Social, shortly after paying a visit to a new Florida immigrant detention center deemed “Alligator Alcatraz.”

“Because of the Violence and Criminality I have seen due to the Open Border Policy of Sleepy Joe Biden, in particular allowing millions of people into our Country who shouldn’t be here, I wanted something representative to show how we fight back, and then, it happened, I saw a picture of ALCATRAZ looking so foreboding, and I said, ‘We’re going to look into renovating and rebuilding the famous ALCATRAZ Prison sitting high on the Bay, surrounded by sharks.”

“What a symbol it is, and will be!” Trump added.

According to the president, conceptual work on the plan to reactivate Alcatraz began six months ago and “various prison development firm” are “looking at doing it” in collaboration with the government.

“Still a little early, but lots of promise!” Trump said.

President Trump first floated the idea of reopening Alcatraz as a federal prison back in May, at the time claiming he was “directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz. The revamped prison, he said, would “house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.”

Alcatraz, known as “The Rock,” housed some of the nation’s most notorious criminals during its heyday, including Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. The prison was closed in 1963 by then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The closure was attributed to the prison’s crumbling infrastructure and the high costs of maintaining and supplying it.

Due to its location in the middle of San Francisco Bay, everything from food, fuel and water had to be transported to the island by boat.

Alcatraz is currently a museum and has been operated by the National Park Service since 1972. At the time of its closure, it was estimated that it would cost between $3 million and $5 million to restore and maintain it as a prison.

It’s been estimated that it would cost between $235 million and $370 million upfront to reopen Alcatraz as a prison with annual operating costs of around $60 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.