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Exclusive: Fox News was granted a visit to Alcatraz on Thursday as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Home Secretary Doug Burgum under the president’s guidance. Donald Trump.
The visit is part of an official review to determine whether the location can be reused as a high-security federal detention center.
“This is the president’s idea,” the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt “He spoke about this in May and directed his administration to review Alcatraz’s reopening plans,” explained in a White House briefing in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
Trump pushes to reopen Alcatraz, but Pelosi and news words see it as “distraction”
Bondy and Burgum join Fox News Correspondent after Trump announced on May 5 that he would reopen Alcatraz as a working prison. David Spunt Visit the Rock to receive briefings on site and evaluate the 91-year-old former federal prison infrastructure.
The visit included exercises in the main cell blocks and restricted areas that were normally closed by the public, which was a fact-finding task rather than a formal announcement of the reopening.
Fox News Correspondent David Spunt interviewed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Home Secretary Doug Burgum on Thursday in Alcatraz. The exclusive interview was conducted during their visit to the retired prison. (Fox News)
Bondi and Burgum took a few hours While discussing the potential for future federal use of the island, the collapsed infrastructure was examined. They visited the prison and surrounding islands, met with National Park Service (NPS) officials, and directed staff to work together to develop a preliminary plan for the rehabilitation complex.
The island is NP Under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior.
If reactivated, it will be operated by the Prison Bureau Ministry of Justice (DOJ).
“So many people remember Al Capone, but it has nothing to do with the past. It’s about Alcatraz Island that could become a reality again,” Spunt reported from the island. “They believe that president with the boss, this may be a symbol of the law and order this administration is looking for.”
The gods operated as federal prisons from 1934 to 1963 and were initially operated as military prisons in the 1850s. The name comes from “Alcatelas” after the Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala’s 1775 San Francisco Bay exploration mission. Although its etymology inspired the debate, Prison Bureau debate It likely means a “pelican” or a “strange bird”.
Legal experts say Trump can definitely reopen Alcatraz, but face “avalanche lawsuits”

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi listened to the restricted tunnel as a National Park Service official on a private tour on Thursday at Alcatraz. (Fox News)
Alcatraz Island’s maximum capacity as a federal prison is 336 inmates, plus more than 150 employees and their families. According to the Bureau of Prison Data, the operating costs per inmate in the prison exceeded $10 a day in the early 1960s, almost twice the national average.
“It’s a great facility.” Bondy says. “It takes a lot of work, but no one can escape from Alcatraz and survive.”
Bondy told Fox News that in theory, prisons can possess a range of criminals, including “violent criminals, federal predators and illegal foreigners.” She emphasized the symbolic value of its isolation and reputation for strict control.
Burgum said the goal is to evaluate the feasibility of restoring Alcatraz to its original purpose.
“It’s federal property. Its original purpose is prison. We’re here to see if it can do that again,” he said.
The island poses a serious logistical challenge. The Devils don’t have direct electricity or waterlines from San Francisco mainland More than a mile away, more than one million gallons of water have been shipped per month. The restoration also requires significant upgrades to meet modern regulations, including ADA compliance, environmental regulations and approval from the Bureau of Prisons and federal courts.
The Justice Department sent a letter to the California Sheriff this week seeking information about undocumented immigrants released from state jails. A government official on Fox News figures noted that while the letters reflect on the ongoing public safety missions by the Justice Department, they have no direct relationship with the Demon Commentary.

Alcatraz Island serves as a national park with 1.5 million visitors each year. (Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle by Getty Images)
Not everyone is on the boat. Former House Speaker Nancy PelosiThose representing San Francisco in Congress called the initiative Trump’s stupidest initiative.
The government has not announced a timetable for the decision. Bondi and Burgum will report their findings to the President before any formal measures are taken.
After closing in 1963 due to high costs and decaying infrastructure, Alcatraz reopened to the public in 1973 under the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior. Now, it is one of the most visited national historic landmarks in the country, attracting more than 1.5 million visitors each year. This popularity may be a factor in any decision to return it to a guaranteed correction website.
The demon has long captured the American imagination. Between 1934 and 1963, 14 escape attempts involving 36 men were recorded, but the Bureau of Prisons insisted that Escapee had never been free.
Officials believe the cold climax may have taken away the lives of the vanished person.
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“This is Alcatraz,” Burgum said. “What does this name still mean.”
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Senior News Analyst & National Affairs Writer
Prabhat Sharma is a veteran journalist with over 12 years of experience covering national news, current affairs, and breaking stories across India. Known for his analytical approach and in-depth reporting, Prabhat brings clarity to complex topics and delivers content that informs, educates, and empowers readers.
He is passionate about political transparency, policy analysis, and the evolving landscape of Indian journalism.
When he’s not writing, you’ll find him reading non-fiction, watching documentaries, or exploring offbeat destinations