US issues urgent ‘do not travel warning’ for tourist

The US government has issued a serious warning urging citizens to avoid traveling to Venezuela under any circumstances, citing severe risks including wrongful detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, and arbitrary law enforcement. The alert, released by the US Embassy in Caracas, emphasizes that more US nationals are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country. It highlights the inability of US officials to assist detained citizens because there is no US embassy or consulate operating there since 2019. Citizens are also cautioned about the dangers near Venezuelan borders with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana.

For those already in Venezuela, the State Department strongly recommends leaving immediately, stating that there is no safe way to travel within the country. The alert adds that detained US citizens are often denied contact with family or legal representation and that the US government is unable to intervene. The warning also stresses avoiding the borders to prevent accidental entry into Venezuela, which could result in detention. Overall, the message is clear: Venezuela poses significant dangers for US citizens, and travel there should be avoided entirely.