President Donald Trump said Sunday in a Truth Socal post that he wants to reopen Alcatraz Island.
The infamous prison, located in San Francisco Bay, was closed in 1963 due to high operating costs and crumbling infrastructure, and is now a popular tourist destination.
Trump wrote that, “For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. 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.”
“That is why, today," he said, “I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders.”
Trump’s directive to rebuild and reopen the long-shuttered penitentiary was the latest salvo in his effort to overhaul how and where federal prisoners and immigration detainees are locked up. But such a move would likely be an expensive and challenging proposition.
Bringing the facility up to modern-day standards would require massive investments at a time when the Bureau of Prisons has been shuttering prisons for similar infrastructure issues.
Donna Hamm, an Arizona prison rights advocate, said reopening the prisons that have been closed for more than 60 years would not be feasible.
“It’s a crumbling structure with a gorgeous view of San Francisco Bay, but it is beyond imagination at the cost!” said Hamm, executive director of Middle Ground Prison Reform.
Alcatraz originally closed because of costs to keep the facility open compared to inland prisons. All resources, including water, had to be brought in by boat, making daily costs per person $10.10 in 1959. Other federal prisons during the time cost about $3 per day.
“Given the amount of time it would take to restore the facility, and he has a limited term to four years. It would not come online in his term anyway,” Hamm said.
Hamm says she believes this is more “bluster” than actual orders.
Trump said in his post that multiple federal agencies would be in charge of reopening the prison including the FBI, Homeland Security and Bureau of Prisons.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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