In a press conference from the White House, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, reaffirmed his intention to reopen the iconic Alcatraz prison, closed since 1963, as a symbol of his renewed policy of “law and order.”
Questioned by a journalist about the viability of the project and the origin of the idea, Trump provided a response filled with symbolic, cinematic, and sentimental references. “Well, I guess I should have been a filmmaker,” he said with a laugh, before pointing out that Alcatraz represents “something very strong, very powerful in terms of law and order”.
During his speech, the president described Alcatraz as “the supreme right” and praised its historical reputation as an impenetrable prison. “No one has escaped from Alcatraz… there were many shark bites, many problems,” he recalled dramatically. “It housed the most violent criminals in the world,” he added.
For Trump, the value of reopening the prison lies not only in its utility as a correctional facility but in what it symbolizes: discipline, punishment, and control in the face of what he perceives as a country engulfed in chaos. “It represents something strong related to law and order… our country needs that,” he declared.
Although he did not provide logistical or legal details on how the reopening of Alcatraz, now a museum and national park, would be realized, Trump assured that his team has already had “a brief conversation” on the matter and that “some of those present will be working hard on that”.
“Let’s see if we can bring it back on a large scale,” the leader stated, without specifying whether it would be an active detention center or a more symbolic project. Still, he expressed confidence in its potential emotional and political impact. “It is something amazing... in a way it represents something horrible and beautiful, strong, miserable, and weak.”
Alcatraz, located in San Francisco Bay, served as a maximum-security federal prison from 1934 to 1963, housing figures such as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. It was closed due to high operational costs and has since operated as a protected tourist site under the National Park Service.
On his social network Truth Social, Trump announced his stance on Sunday. “Rebuild and reopen Alcatraz! For too long, the United States has been plagued by cruel, violent, and repeat offenders, the scum of society, who will bring nothing but misery and suffering”, he wrote.
According to official sources, Trump has ordered the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security to begin working on the reopening and expansion of the prison. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons cited by the Reuters agency stated that the agency "will comply with all presidential orders" and is awaiting further specific instructions.
The measure has sparked harsh criticism. The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, described the proposal as “not serious and impractical.”
Legal experts and civil organizations have warned that reopening a prison that has been closed for more than six decades would face economic, environmental, and legal obstacles, in addition to violating international human rights standards.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Reopening of Alcatraz Prison by Donald Trump
What is the purpose of reopening Alcatraz prison?
The president Donald Trump seeks to reopen Alcatraz as a symbol of "law and order" in his administration. Alcatraz represents discipline, punishment, and control in the face of chaos, and Trump wishes to use it to confine the most violent criminals in the United States.
What challenges does the reopening of Alcatraz face?
The reopening of Alcatraz faces economic, environmental, and legal obstacles. Legal experts and civil organizations have warned that it could violate international human rights standards. Furthermore, the high operational cost was the original reason for its closure in 1963.
Who would be imprisoned in Alcatraz if it were to reopen?
Although it has not been revealed who would be the first to be incarcerated, Trump targets undocumented immigrants, gang members, and repeat offenders as the primary objectives for confinement in Alcatraz.
How does the reopening of Alcatraz relate to Trump's immigration policy?
The reopening of Alcatraz aligns with Trump's immigration policy, which seeks to increase the deportation of illegal immigrants and criminals. Trump has directed the Bureau of Prisons and other agencies to work on the reopening of the penitentiary as part of his strategy for tougher criminal enforcement.
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