Venezuela Receives ‘Do Not Travel’ Warning from State Department
According to the State Department, violent crimes such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking are prevalent in Venezuela.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a “do not travel” warning for Venezuela, reiterating a previous advisory cautioning American citizens against visiting the country.
In a recent bulletin, the federal agency maintained its “Level 4” advisory, the highest risk level, for Venezuela, citing high levels of crime and potential civil unrest.
Additionally, there are shortages of essential resources such as gasoline, electricity, water, medicine, and medical supplies throughout much of Venezuela.
A notable risk to U.S. citizens is being detained by Venezuelan authorities, with some Americans being imprisoned for up to five years without notification to the U.S. government or access to consular services.
In 2019, the U.S. State Department evacuated all diplomatic personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, the capital, and ceased operations there.
All consular services, both routine and emergency, are suspended until further notice. The U.S. government lacks the ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.
U.S. citizens requiring consular aid in Venezuela should leave as soon as possible and contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in a different country.
The bulletin also mentions the presence of foreign terrorist organizations from neighboring Colombia operating within Venezuela.
The re-issued bulletin comes shortly before scheduled elections in July. Presidential elections are set for July 28, potentially granting Mr. Maduro another term, although some prominent opposition candidates have been disqualified, drawing criticism from international human rights organizations.
In Latin America and the Caribbean regions, “Level 3” or “reconsider travel” advisories have been issued for Colombia, Guyana, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Guatemala, and regions in Mexico. Several “Level 4” advisories remain in place for specific Mexican states, primarily due to crime and drug cartel-related activities.
Worldwide Alert
The Venezuela bulletin coincides with the recent issuance of a “worldwide alert” by the State Department for U.S. citizens concerning potential terrorist threats in other countries.
In a security alert on its website, the agency highlights the possibility of terrorist attacks, protests, or violent incidents targeting U.S. citizens and interests. Americans abroad are advised to exercise increased caution.
The State Department also acknowledges the heightened risk of violence against LGBT individuals inspired by foreign terrorist organizations in a separate bulletin.
In a separate communication, both the FBI and DHS warned of potential terrorist threats during Pride-related events, noting groups like ISIS could exploit gatherings either through mail, in person, or online, without revealing specific details.