The United States has escalated its travel warnings for Venezuela to the most critical level, urging American citizens to evacuate the South American nation immediately. This urgent advisory comes amid deteriorating security conditions and heightened risks to U.S. nationals.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs issued the Level 4: Do Not Travel alert—the highest danger classification—citing multiple severe threats including wrongful detention, torture in custody, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary law enforcement, widespread crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
According to official communications, the security situation in Venezuela remains highly volatile. Intelligence reports indicate armed militia groups, locally known as ‘colectivos,’ have established roadblocks throughout the country where they systematically search vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or perceived support for American interests.
The timing of this heightened alert follows the recent resumption of international flights, providing evacuation opportunities that previously didn’t exist. U.S. citizens are advised to maintain extreme vigilance during road travel and closely monitor airline communications for updated flight information.
This development occurs against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas following recent military actions. The current security landscape presents what U.S. officials characterize as an unacceptable risk environment for American citizens, necessitating immediate departure while commercial options remain available.