San Francisco voices opposition to Donald Trump's plan to reopen Alcatraz
Alcatraz: Trump's Contentious Plan to Revamp a Symbol of Unyielding Justice
"What absolute nonsense!" was the reaction of California State Senator Scott Wiener (Democratic Party) and numerous other Golden State officials to Trump's latest brainchild - reviving Alcatraz, the notorious penal island of San Francisco Bay. Abandoned in 1963, it's now a national park attracting around 1.2 million tourists annually.
On his Truth Social platform last Sunday, May 4, Trump declared his command to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice, FBI, and internal security to "reopen a markedly expanded and restored version of Alcatraz, to house the most brutal and ruthless criminals in America".
Trump views this project as a resolution to his difficulties in achieving his objectives for mass deportations of unauthorized immigrants. Simultaneously, detention centers (with a capacity of 50,000 places) are overflowing, and legal impediments have hindered his plans for border expulsions without due process. "Enough of being captive to criminals, goons, and judges who lack the courage to do their job and allow us to deport illegal immigrants who entered our country," Trump pens.
** questioned the feasibility and legality of Trump's proposal. However, the details are sketchy at best** due to Alcatraz's current status as a tourist site managed by the National Park Service since 1972. This initiative seems in line with Trump's broader second-term policies promoting harsh sentencing, augmented policing, and immigration hardliners. No immediate legislative or state-level reactions from California leaders have been reported in available sources.
[1] Gideon, A., (2025, May 5). Trump Directive Revives Alcatraz as Federal Prison. Bleeding Edge News, retrieved from http://bleedingedgenews.com/politics/trump-directive-revives-alcatraz-as-federal-prison/
[2] Johnson, L., (2025, May 6). Trump's Alcatraz Revival Plan Hits Legal and Practical Snags. San Francisco Chronicle, retrieved from https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/trump-alcatraz-plan/
[3] Gonzales, R., (2025, May 7). Analysis: Trump's Alcatraz Plan Echoes Broader Hardline Agenda. Yahoo! News, retrieved from https://news.yahoo.com/analysis-trump-alcatraz-plan-echoes-broader-034642300.html
- California State Senator Scott Wiener and other officials in the Golden State expressed disbelief about President Trump's plan to reopen Alcatraz as a federal prison, with Wiener calling it "absolute nonsense."
- Trump, on his Truth Social platform, announced his intention to reopen a significantly expanded and restored version of Alcatraz to house the most brutal and ruthless criminals in America.
- Trump's Alcatraz revival plan is a part of his broader second-term policies promoting harsh sentencing, augmented policing, and immigration hardliners.
- The feasibility and legality of Trump's proposal to revive Alcatraz as a federal prison are questionable due to its current status as a tourist site managed by the National Park Service since 1972.
- As of the current general news and crime-and-justice reports, no immediate legislative or state-level reactions from California leaders have been reported regarding Trump's Alcatraz revival plan.
