Expand Alcatraz as a prison again: Trump applies for money

According to a draft budget published by the White House, 152 million dollars (around 132 million euros) are to be made available for project planning. It states that Alcatraz is to be converted into a state-of-the-art prison. The government's budget plan will be submitted to the US Parliament, which will make the final decision.

From 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz on an island in San Francisco Bay was the most feared prison in the USA. The rocky island "The Rock" was considered escape-proof - and a place of banishment for the "worst of the worst". These included the gangster legend Al Capone.

One of the reasons for its closure in 1963 was the high operating costs. Water and food had to be brought to the island by boat. The old buildings increasingly fell into disrepair in the harsh sea air.

Alcatraz was opened to visitors in 1972. Today, the former prison is a popular tourist destination. The island is protected as a museum and as a breeding ground for many birds.

Trump: Alcatraz as a symbol of law and order

In May last year, Trump had spoken of putting Alcatraz back into operation in order to lock up serious criminals there. The Republican declared that he was instructing the relevant authorities to reopen an "enlarged and rebuilt Alcatraz to house America's most ruthless and violent criminals". Alcatraz should serve as a symbol of law and order. He did not give details of the ambitious project.

Experts estimate construction costs of up to two billion dollars to renovate the dilapidated facility and put it back into operation. According to the authority responsible for federal prisons, Alcatraz Prison has only ever housed an average of around 260 to 275 inmates over the years. Accordingly, the prison never reached its full capacity of 336 inmates - less than one percent of all federal prisoners were incarcerated there.