President Trump has proposed reopening Alcatraz Island, the infamous prison famously closed in 1963, as a facility for the "most ruthless and violent offenders." He claims this would be a symbol of law and order. Critics, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, doubt the feasibility of such a plan, noting that Alcatraz has become a popular national park and its conversion back to a prison would be costly. Concerns also include the infrastructure needed to support a high-security prison that has been abandoned for over 60 years.
"When we were a more serious nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That's the way it's supposed to be," he wrote.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat whose district includes the island, was among those who questioned the feasibility of the plan. "It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The president's proposal is not a serious one," she wrote on X.
Converting the site back into a functioning high-security prison would likely be prohibitively expensive. It would also not be cheap to run.
The prison was closed in 1963 due to crumbling infrastructure and the high costs of repairing and supplying it by boat.
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