The U.S. Department of State has reissued its starkest warning yet about travel to Venezuela, urging all American citizens to avoid the country entirely and for those currently there to leave immediately. Citing “severe risks,” the advisory highlights threats including wrongful detention, kidnapping, and even torture.
In a press release issued Tuesday, the department emphasised that it does not maintain an operational embassy or consulate in Venezuela and is therefore unable to provide emergency or routine consular services. U.S. citizens who find themselves detained in the country are essentially on their own.
“U.S. citizens are at extreme risk of detention when entering Venezuela at any location,” the statement warned. “They may be unjustly charged with terrorism or other serious crimes and detained for long periods.”
According to the department, more American nationals are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country, with some cases involving individuals who unintentionally crossed poorly marked borders from neighbouring countries like Colombia or Brazil. In such situations, even accidental entry into Venezuela can result in serious criminal charges and indefinite imprisonment.
Once detained, U.S. citizens have no reliable way to contact relatives, legal counsel, or the U.S. government. Venezuelan authorities do not report detentions to the U.S., making any intervention virtually impossible.
The advisory paints a bleak picture for anyone considering travel to the politically unstable South American nation. U.S. citizens have reportedly been arrested upon arrival at land borders, airports, and even maritime ports. The State Department underscored that there is “no safe way” for Americans to travel to Venezuela.
In addition to detention risks, the advisory cited the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, ongoing civil unrest, and a dangerously under-resourced healthcare system as further reasons to steer clear of the country.
Venezuela, under President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime, has long had a strained relationship with the United States. Numerous international watchdogs have documented widespread human rights abuses and political repression in the country.
The U.S. shuttered its embassy in Caracas in 2019 and has since issued regular travel warnings. However, the new advisory significantly sharpens its tone, describing the current situation as exceptionally perilous.
The State Department advises any Americans still in Venezuela to depart immediately using commercial options if available. Those who cannot leave are urged to maintain a low profile and avoid discussing their nationality publicly.
