Donald Trump orders reopening of America’s most notorious prison to send ‘most ruthless and violent offenders'

President Donald Trump has announced his plans for one of America's most infamous penitentiaries to reopen, 62 years after it closed its doors for good.

The 47th US president has not been shy when it comes to making changes during his second term in office, having infamously introduced tariffs on almost all goods coming into the country to the highest level reached in over a century.

Trump has also been his naturally outspoken self, which resulted in a public spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the war with Russia and hasn't been afraid to hint at running for a third term, which is prohibited under the 22nd Amendment.

But just yesterday (4 May), the 78-year-old shared news to do with the world of law and order, a realm which previously saw him send accused gang members to a brutal prison located in El Salvador.

Trump has announced his intention to reopen Alcatraz (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Now, Trump has officially ordered his government to reopen Alcatraz and expand it, decades after its closure in 1963.

Taking to Truth Social, he said of the San Francisco prison: "REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! 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."

Adding that when they were a 'more serious nation', they 'did not hesitate' to throw the most serious prisoners behind bars, and keeping them 'far away is how 'it's supposed to be'

"No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets," he wrote.

"That is why, today, 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.

"We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally."

He concluded: "The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary closed in 1963 (Getty Stock Image)

Why did Alcatraz close down?

The prison used to house some of the country's most dangerous criminals, which included the likes of Al Capone, George 'Machine-Gun' Kelly, Alvin Karpis, and Arthur 'Doc' Barker, among others.

Following the island prison's closure in 1963, it has operated as a tourist attraction.

But back on 21 March, 1963, USP Alcatraz ceased operations after just 29 years, though it had nothing to do with the escape of prisoners.

It was all to do with the costs it took to continue operating, with an estimated $3-5 million required at the time to run and maintain the facility.

This was without operating costs, as the federal prison cost almost three times as much to operate compared to other prisons, with the official Federal Bureau of Prisons stating that the daily per capita cost at Alcatraz was $10.10, while USP Atlanta as an example was around the $3 mark.

The steep expenses were due to the physical isolation of the island, meaning that all supplies would have to be brought in by boat, which included one million gallons of water per week.

It was eventually decided that it was more cost-effective to build a new prison than to keep the island penitentiary open.