U.S. Issues Travel Warning for Venezuela as Crime, Unrest, and Kidnappings Surge

The State Department has reissued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for Venezuela, citing high levels of crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and arbitrary enforcement of laws under President Nicolás Maduro's socialist dictatorship.

The United States Department of State has strongly advised Americans to avoid traveling to Venezuela due to the escalating levels of crime, civil unrest, kidnappings, and the arbitrary application of local laws under the dictatorial rule of President Nicolás Maduro. The department has reinstated a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory, its most severe warning for international travel.

"Refrain from traveling to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws," the notice posted on the State Department's website states. "Reconsider travel due to wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure."

The advisory highlights the prevalence of violent crimes in Venezuela, including homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking. It also cautions about the "high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Venezuela," emphasizing that security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years, often without notifying the U.S. about the detentions or allowing access to detained citizens.

Political demonstrations and rallies occur frequently, often with minimal notice, the advisory adds. Anti-Maduro protests have sparked a forceful response from police and security forces, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants. These protests have occasionally escalated into looting and vandalism.

The advisory further notes that Venezuela continues to grapple with severe shortages of gasoline, electricity, water, medicine, and medical supplies in various regions. Maduro is facing reelection against Edmundo Gonzalez, an experienced ex-diplomat who was nominated as the primary opposition candidate after primary winner Maria Corina Machado was barred from running by the Supreme Court.

The U.S. has reimposed oil sanctions on Venezuela, accusing Maduro of not fully adhering to agreements made with the opposition to ensure free and fair elections. Opposition members have raised concerns that the ruling Socialist party may attempt to prevent Gonzalez from running in the upcoming elections, as recent polls suggest that any candidate backed by Machado would secure over double the support of Maduro.

In 2019, the State Department withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas and paused all consular services, as well as routine and emergency services. The embassy remains closed, and the U.S. government has no capacity to offer emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela. Individuals requiring consular assistance should attempt to leave Venezuela as soon as possible and contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in another country.

Additionally, the advisory warns that Colombian terrorist groups are active in Venezuela's border regions with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana. This warning aligns with the alarming trend of Venezuelans fleeing their country and seeking asylum in the United States. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, the number of Venezuelans arriving at the border has skyrocketed from 50,000 in fiscal year 2021 to nearly 335,000 in fiscal year 2023.

The report raises concerns about the potential for gang members from Venezuela to infiltrate the U.S. and the threat of terrorism given Venezuela's close ties with Iran, a nation that actively supports Hezbollah and Hamas. Previous congressional hearings have highlighted how Venezuela has provided travel documents to militants.

In conclusion, the State Department strongly discourages travel to Venezuela due to the dire security conditions and the risks posed by crime, civil unrest, arbitrary detentions, and terrorism. U.S. citizens in Venezuela are urged to depart the country as soon as it is feasible for their safety.