U.S. Urgently Advises Its Citizens to Leave Venezuela Immediately

The U.S. State Department has updated its travel warning for Venezuela as of May 12, reaffirming a Level 4 advisory: Do Not Travel. This announcement, issued under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlights the severe risks of arbitrary detention, torture, terrorism, and kidnapping faced by American citizens in the South American nation.

Describing the warning as a "reiteration and emphasis on extreme danger," the update strengthens the message Washington has maintained since 2019. This was the year the U.S. ordered the withdrawal of its diplomatic personnel from Caracas and completely suspended consular services. "Do not travel to or remain in Venezuela," the official document stressed, urging all U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to leave the country immediately, including those with Venezuelan passports or other travel documents.

The advisory emphasizes that arbitrary detention of U.S. citizens is among the gravest threats. It specifically notes that Venezuelan security forces have detained Americans for extended periods without access to legal representation, consular visits, or family contact. "The U.S. government cannot provide emergency or consular assistance in Venezuela. It has no means to communicate with detained citizens or ensure their release," the statement declared.

Beyond legal and political dangers, the environment in Venezuela is extremely unsafe, characterized by widespread violent crime, a lack of basic medical services, and deteriorating infrastructure. The shortages of gasoline, electricity, medicine, and clean water across much of the country heighten the vulnerability of any foreign visitor.

U.S. authorities also warned of the presence of irregular armed groups, including Colombian terrorist organizations, operating in border regions with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana. Additionally, the State Department pointed out the heightened dangers of night travel between cities or from Maiquetía International Airport to Caracas, using unregulated taxis or ATMs in these areas. Entering Venezuela without a valid visa could result in indefinite detention without consular contact.

The document advised those who, despite the warnings, choose to stay or travel to Venezuela, to prepare wills, obtain medical evacuation insurance, and establish "proof of life" communication protocols with family or employers in case of abduction or detention. Furthermore, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued notices restricting civilian flights over Venezuelan airspace due to safety risks.

These types of warnings are not new. In previous years, Washington has issued similar alerts. In March 2019, following the withdrawal of diplomatic staff, reports confirmed the closure of the embassy in Caracas and the suspension of consular services. Earlier, in January of the same year, then-President Trump also urged American citizens to avoid any travel to the oil-rich nation. As far back as December 2016, the State Department had advised Americans to leave Venezuela amid rising instability.

The continued issuance of these warnings underscores the ongoing deterioration of Venezuela's situation, lacking guarantees for the physical or legal safety of foreign citizens. This latest State Department advisory comes shortly after a group of Venezuelan opposition members, who had taken refuge at the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, managed to leave the country and reach the United States.

Described by the Secretary of State as a "rescue," this event was portrayed differently by Nicolás Maduro's regime, which claimed it was a negotiated agreement, according to CNN. The group, associated with opposition leader María Corina Machado, had been sheltered for nearly a year after being accused of participating in an alleged plot to overthrow the Venezuelan president, who, despite a significant electoral loss, declared himself the winner of the past elections and launched a severe crackdown on opponents and civil society activists.