The United States has urgently called on its citizens to refrain from traveling to Venezuela, highlighting grave concerns such as the risk of kidnapping, the threat of wrongful detention, ongoing civil unrest, and even torture. T
he message is clear: if you are currently in Venezuela, it’s best to leave as soon as possible.
Compounding the severity of the situation, the US State Department acknowledges its lack of an operational embassy or consulate in Venezuela, which greatly hampers their capacity to offer either routine or emergency support to American citizens in distress there.
The State Department has cautioned, “U.S. citizens face extreme danger of detention upon entering Venezuela, regardless of the entry point.
They are at risk of being unjustly accused of terrorism or other significant crimes, which can lead to prolonged detention.” Recent reports have confirmed that US citizens have been detained upon arrival at various entry points, including land borders, airports, and seaports. Traveling to Venezuela poses significant risks to your safety.
Alarmingly, more Americans are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than anywhere else worldwide.
The State Department’s Travel Advisory Level 4 Warning
While the ‘do not travel’ advisory for Venezuela isn’t entirely new, the situation escalated as of May 27, when the State Department assigned Venezuela the highest Travel Advisory level—Level 4.
Americans are also advised to “steer clear of Venezuelan borders with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana,” because these borders are often poorly defined.
Adding to the complexity, the Venezuelan authorities do not notify the US about the detention of its citizens, creating tremendous difficulty in offering any aid. Those detained are often unable to contact family or legal representatives, leaving them in dire situations.
The advisory further elaborates, “Other foreign nationals within Venezuela also face a significant risk of unjust detention.”
There is simply no safe way to visit Venezuela for Americans at this time.
The State Department has firmly advised all US citizens remaining in Venezuela to “depart without delay.” Even individuals with dual citizenship or valid visas remain vulnerable to these risks.
