Plans for Alcatraz Revisited
On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondy and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burghum visited Alcatraz, reflecting on the infamous prison more than six decades after it shut its doors.
Burghum commented, “Alcatraz is a brand known worldwide for being effective in housing for people who are incarcerated.” The site is now a well-frequented tourist attraction managed by the National Park Service.
In a Fox News interview, Burghum elaborated, “It’s federal property. Its original use was in prison. Part of this is testing feasibility to return to the original use.” There seems to be an intention to explore what it would mean to use Alcatraz as a prison again.
According to Burghum, his office and the Department of Justice are leading efforts to renovate and reopen the facility for “the most dangerous criminals and illegals.” This new direction aligns with President Trump’s earlier instructions to reclaim Alcatraz for detaining what he called “vicious, violent, and repetitive” offenders.
Trump shared his vision in a social media post, describing a facility that would be “substantially expanded and rebuilt” to represent law, order, and justice.
Alcatraz served as a significant federal detention center from 1934 to 1963. Known for its near-escape-proof design, strong bay currents and cold temperatures made it a daunting place for inmates. Notably, gangsters like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly were among its infamous residents.
The prison closed in 1963 primarily due to mounting operational costs. The Bureau of Prisons estimated that recovering and maintaining the facility would require $3 million to $5 million, which amounts to roughly $31 million to $52 million today. This estimate didn’t account for the high daily operating expenses, as everything needed was transported by boat.
At its closure, Alcatraz was reportedly the most expensive federal prison to operate, costing almost three times more than its counterparts.
Bondy, after touring the site, noted, “It could hold middle-class violent prisoners, and illegal aliens. It could hold anything.” She remarked positively about the facility, acknowledging the extensive work required to make it operational again. “No one knows he will survive by fleeing Alcatraz,” she added, hinting at its notorious reputation.
Throughout its 29 years in operation, 36 inmates attempted to escape. The most famous of these, the Anglin brothers and Frank Morris, made a daring bid for freedom in 1962, but they are presumed to have drowned in the bay.
However, the idea of repurposing Alcatraz for imprisonment has drawn criticism. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), representing San Francisco, labeled it as “the dumbest initiative” of the Trump administration. In an interview on MSNBC, she stated, “Being strict about crime isn’t going to turn into Alcatraz. This won’t even be a prison for a long time. I don’t think that will happen.” She further criticized the notion, calling it “frivolous about money” and “stupid about the choices they made.”
