Former U.S. President Donald Trump wants to bring Alcatraz Island back into use as a high-security prison, arguing the U.S. must isolate repeat violent offenders far from society. His comments sparked strong criticism from California officials and legal experts who called the proposal unrealistic and politically motivated.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump proposed turning Alcatraz into a modern prison for what he called the country’s “worst repeat criminals.” The island, located in San Francisco Bay, once held infamous inmates like Al Capone but has served as a museum and national park since its closure in 1963.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said today’s crime policies are too weak and claimed he had asked federal agencies, including the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Homeland Security, to begin developing a plan to rebuild and expand the facility.
“We need to get violent criminals off our streets and out of our communities,” Trump wrote. “A modern Alcatraz could send a strong message.”
Strong Pushback From California Leaders
California leaders quickly condemned the idea. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the proposal was “absurd,” noting Alcatraz’s status as a national historic site.
State Senator Scott Wiener also criticized Trump’s plan, calling it “dangerous” and “disconnected from reality.” He accused the former president of trying to build “a gulag in the bay.”
Civil rights lawyer Scott Hechinger joined in, stating that the plan distracts from Trump’s previous efforts to cut funding from programs that reduce crime through education and prevention.
“This is political theater,” Hechinger said. “It doesn’t solve the real problems communities face.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office released a short statement dismissing the proposal as a headline stunt, aimed at drawing attention away from deeper policy issues.
Alcatraz: A Prison With a Troubled Past
Alcatraz shut down in 1963 due to poor infrastructure and high maintenance costs. Its remote location made it expensive to operate, and it lacked basic resources like fresh water. During its 29 years of use, the prison became a symbol of isolation and punishment. It also gained fame from dramatic escape attempts—most notably in 1962, when three prisoners vanished from their cells. Their fate remains unknown.
The site has deeper cultural importance, too. In the 1800s, Hopi families were imprisoned there for refusing forced assimilation. In 1969, Native American activists occupied the island for 19 months to protest federal policies and reclaim Indigenous rights. That protest helped launch a wider Native sovereignty movement.
Today, Alcatraz is part of the U.S. National Park System, visited by over 1.5 million tourists each year.
Legal Hurdles and Political Motives
Although Trump later described the proposal as “just an idea,” it fits into his broader push for strict law enforcement. In the past, he has floated similar controversial policies, including transferring some prisoners abroad—a plan many legal scholars say would violate constitutional protections.
Most experts say reopening Alcatraz would be extremely difficult. The costs of rebuilding, legal restrictions on national park land, and California’s control of the island make the idea nearly impossible to carry out.
Yet a few Republicans, including Oklahoma Representative Markwayne Mullin, expressed support. Mullin said prisons like Alcatraz are “exactly where the most violent criminals belong.”
Still, critics argue the proposal does more to stir headlines than to address root causes of crime. They point to research showing that investment in social services, mental health care, and education lowers crime more effectively than tougher prisons.
Focus on Real Solutions Urged
Crime experts and civil rights groups have urged leaders to avoid symbolic responses and instead prioritize evidence-based approaches to public safety. These include neighborhood support programs, fair sentencing reforms, and targeted policing.
Trump’s Alcatraz proposal may appeal to some voters looking for hardline policies, but experts stress it is unlikely to become law. More importantly, they say it risks pulling attention away from real, workable solutions that could help U.S. cities become safer.