SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, joined by Attorney General Pam Bondi, visited Alcatraz Island on Thursday to evaluate the feasibility of reopening the former federal prison to detain the nation’s most violent and high-risk criminals. The visit follows President Donald J. Trump’s directive to assess the iconic facility’s potential role in bolstering public safety and immigration enforcement.
Once home to notorious figures such as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Alcatraz operated as a high-security prison until 1963 and is currently managed by the National Park Service. Thursday’s inspection included tours of key infrastructure, including the cellblocks, industry building, and power station.
The Biden administration’s policies were cited by Trump officials as contributing to a rise in violent and property crimes in California. In response, the Trump administration has emphasized a renewed focus on law enforcement and border security through recent legislative action, including the One Big Beautiful Bill.
“The President’s directive is clear: restore justice, protect American families, and ensure our streets are no longer safe havens for violent criminals,” said Burgum during the visit.
The initiative represents a symbolic and practical push to reverse leniency in criminal justice policies and aligns with broader efforts by the administration to reinforce law and order across the country.
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