President Donald Trump's ambitious proposal to revive the long-shuttered Alcatraz prison in San Francisco has sparked a wave of criticism from California Democrats.

According to Daily Mail, Trump announced his plan on Truth Social to restore and expand the infamous prison facility, which has been closed for 62 years, as a potential solution to house what he describes as "America's most ruthless and violent Offenders."

The controversial announcement comes as Trump faces ongoing legal challenges regarding his efforts to deport illegal immigrants. His proposal aims to transform the current tourist attraction, which generates approximately $60 million in revenue annually and attracts 1.5 million visitors, into a maximum-security federal prison.

Trump blames judges for prison revival plan

California State Senator Scott Wiener expressed strong opposition to the proposal. He warned constituents about Trump's intentions to transform the historic site into what he called a "domestic gulag."

Governor Gavin Newsom's office dismissed the announcement through his director of communications, Izzy Gardon, who laughed off the proposal as another distraction from Washington. Nancy Pelosi joined the chorus of critics, emphasizing that Alcatraz has been a national park and major tourist attraction for over six decades, declaring that "the President's proposal is not a serious one."

Historical challenges plague prison reopening

The Bureau of Prisons highlighted significant operational hurdles when Alcatraz originally closed in 1963. The facility required nearly one million gallons of water to be transported weekly due to lack of fresh water supply.

Trump's communications revealed that the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security would collaborate on the project. According to the original closure documents, the prison needed $3 million to $5 million just for basic maintenance, excluding daily operational costs.

Michael Cohen and lawyer George Conway pointed out practical limitations, noting Alcatraz's small capacity of only 336 inmates compared to modern maximum security prisons that typically house between 1,000 and 2,500 prisoners.

Trump defends controversial proposal

The president defended his position by criticizing what he called "radicalized judges" who he claims are hindering his deportation efforts. Here's what Trump said about the judges:

So many of these radicalized judges they want to have trials for every single person in our country illegally. That would mean millions of trials and it's just so ridiculous what's happening.

Trump further emphasized his commitment to the project with this statement on Truth Social:

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.

From tourist attraction to maximum security facility

The proposal involves significant changes to the current National Park Service site. Alcatraz brings in substantial tourism revenue and has become deeply embedded in popular culture through movies like "The Rock" starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.

The Bureau of Prisons issued a brief statement acknowledging they "will comply with all Presidential Orders." This development follows Trump's earlier directive to open a detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, intended to hold up to 30,000 individuals he labels as "worst criminal aliens." Trump's plan would require extensive renovation and expansion of the aging facility, which has primarily served as a museum and tourist destination since its closure.

Fierce debate continues over prison proposal

President Trump's controversial plan to reopen Alcatraz as a federal prison has ignited intense opposition from California Democratic leaders and sparked debate about practical feasibility. The proposal emerged as Trump faced ongoing challenges from courts regarding his deportation policies, leading him to seek alternative solutions for detaining individuals he considers dangerous criminals. As the discussion continues, the future of the historic San Francisco Bay landmark hangs in question, with tourism advocates and prison reform activists joining forces against the proposed transformation.