- The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Venezuela—the most severe warning level.
- American citizens are at risk of wrongful detention, torture, and denial of due process by Venezuelan security forces.
- Venezuela currently holds more wrongfully detained U.S. nationals than any other country, according to U.S. officials.
- No U.S. embassy or consulate is operating in Venezuela, leaving American detainees without legal or consular support.
- The State Department strongly urges all U.S. citizens in Venezuela to leave immediately, regardless of dual citizenship or travel purpose.
In a stark and urgent directive, the U.S. Department of State has warned American citizens to avoid all travel to Venezuela and to leave the country immediately if already present. The advisory, classified as Level 4: Do Not Travel, is the most severe warning the department can issue.
According to a press statement from the U.S. State Department, American citizens face an increasingly dangerous environment under Nicolás Maduro’s regime, including risks of wrongful detention, torture in custody, terrorism, kidnapping, and systemic human rights violations.
The statement highlights that U.S. citizens have been detained in Venezuela for up to five years without access to due process. Detainees frequently endure harsh conditions, including torture, with many held solely because of their American citizenship or possession of a U.S. passport.
Compounding the crisis, there is no functioning U.S. embassy or consulate in Venezuela, meaning the U.S. government is unable to provide even emergency consular assistance. Venezuelan authorities routinely fail to notify the United States when American citizens are detained and deny them visits from U.S. officials, access to legal counsel, or communication with family.
As reported in the official statement, Americans often travel to Venezuela for personal reasons—such as visiting spouses or extended family—but they remain equally vulnerable. In many instances, relatives of U.S. citizens are also detained, facing identical abuse and legal neglect.
Significantly, the U.S. government clarified that dual citizenship, possession of a Venezuelan visa, employment ties, or prior travel history offers no protection against arbitrary detention. Every American, regardless of background or entry method, is at risk under the current regime.
The advisory concludes with a firm message: “Do not travel to Venezuela for any reason. U.S. citizens currently in Venezuela should leave immediately, including those traveling on Venezuelan or other foreign passports.”
Security alerts have already been issued by U.S. diplomatic missions in neighboring countries and those with air routes to Venezuela, reinforcing the urgency of the warning.
With U.S.-Venezuela relations continuing to deteriorate, the advisory underscores the administration’s position that Venezuela remains an unpredictable and hostile environment for American nationals.
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