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Reopening the Rock: Trump’s bold plan for Alcatraz

Alcatraz closed in 1963
Alcatraz closed in 1963 (AFP via Getty Images)
  • US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to reopen and expand Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary to house "America's most ruthless and violent offenders".
  • Alcatraz, a former prison located on an island near San Francisco, closed in 1963 and is now a popular tourist attraction and national park.
  • Mr Trump cited the need to address "serial offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets".
  • Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed Mr Trump's proposal as unserious, highlighting Alcatraz's current status as a national park.
  • This announcement follows a Texas judge's ruling against the Trump administration's use of a 1798 law to deport Venezuelan immigrants accused of being gang members.
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