Want to know what keeps hardened criminals up at night? The thought of being shipped off to a place where escape is impossible and comfort is nonexistent. President Trump just sent shivers down the spines of America’s most dangerous offenders with his bold plan to reopen the infamous Alcatraz prison, giving it a 21st-century upgrade to house the “dregs of society” who terrorize our communities.
While Democrat-run cities have descended into lawless chaos for years – with progressive DAs refusing to prosecute carjackings, judges releasing repeat violent offenders on minimal bail, and politicians dismantling police budgets while crime rates soar – Trump is taking decisive action. His message is crystal clear: the era of coddling violent criminals is over, and the consequences for wreaking havoc on American streets are about to get much, much scarier.
But hold onto your handcuffs, Americans! A former FBI agent has an even more terrifying alternative that might make Alcatraz look like a luxury resort. Jonathan Gilliam, a former FBI special agent, told Fox News Digital that while Trump’s Alcatraz plan sends a powerful message, he knows a location that would make even the most stone-cold criminals break into a cold sweat: San Clemente Island.
From Rock Bottom to The Rock
Trump didn’t mince words when he announced his plans for a revamped Alcatraz on Truth Social. The restored prison would “house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders” and “serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE.” You can almost hear the cell doors slamming shut, can’t you?
From ‘Fox News’:
“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,” Trump wrote. “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.”
Trump directed multiple federal agencies, including the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, to start developing plans to reopen and enlarge the notorious former prison. Located on an island in San Francisco Bay, the original Alcatraz housed some of America’s most infamous criminals, including Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly, before closing in 1963. Remember when America took crime seriously? Trump does.
Island Getaway (That You’ll Never Get Away From)
While Trump’s Alcatraz plan has captured headlines, former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam believes he has an even better location to send chills through criminal circles: San Clemente Island, about 80 miles from San Diego.
“If you want to build a prison, forget about Alcatraz,” Gilliam told Fox News Digital. “That is a perfect location that’s close enough and you could build a prison out there for same or less amount of money. Just the isolation of it would send shock factors through the minds of a lot of these people. You would not want to go there because there’s nothing there.”
Currently used primarily by the U.S. Navy for training purposes, including SEAL training, San Clemente Island is only accessible by boat or air. This extreme isolation creates what Gilliam ominously described as an unwritten rule that “nobody can hear you scream out there.” If that doesn’t make criminals think twice before committing their next violent act, what will? Imagine being surrounded by miles of cold, dark water, with no hope of escape – that’s a deterrent with teeth.
Why Criminals Should Be Shaking in Their Jumpsuits
Whether it’s a revamped Alcatraz or a new maximum-security facility on San Clemente Island, the message remains the same: America is getting serious about protecting law-abiding citizens from violent criminals. Isn’t that what government should be doing in the first place?
“I think the key to Alcatraz was always that it stood alone, you couldn’t escape it and the most hardened criminals were there. So it was a scary place to be,” Gilliam explained. “And so I think as long as that stays with it, then it’ll serve as a deterrent, I would think.”
The symbolic value can’t be overstated. For decades, progressive policies have prioritized criminal rehabilitation over victim protection, with predictably disastrous results. Cities like San Francisco, Portland, and Chicago have become case studies in what happens when criminals face no consequences – skyrocketing theft, rampant drug use, and violence that has decent citizens fleeing in droves.
While critics like Nancy Pelosi have already dismissed Trump’s plan as “not serious,” claiming Alcatraz is now “a very popular national park and major tourist attraction,” they miss the point entirely. Would you rather have tourists taking selfies, or violent criminals locked away where they can’t hurt innocent Americans?
Trump’s plan represents a fundamental shift in how America approaches crime and punishment. Where Democrats see tourist dollars, Trump sees an opportunity to restore the rule of law. As he put it, “No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets.” That’s not just a policy position – it’s a promise to every law-abiding American who deserves to feel safe in their community again.
Key Takeaways:
- President Trump’s plan to reopen Alcatraz signals a return to serious consequences for America’s most violent criminals after years of soft-on-crime policies.
- Former FBI agent Jonathan Gilliam suggests San Clemente Island as an even more effective location, with its extreme isolation creating a powerful psychological deterrent.
- Whether it’s Alcatraz or San Clemente Island, the symbolic message is clear: America is once again prioritizing public safety over criminal comfort.
