The United States government issued an urgent alert to its citizens on Saturday regarding the security situation in Venezuela, urging them not to travel to the country and to leave the territory immediately if they are currently there. The alert reaffirms travel warnings for Venezuela issued since 2019.

“The level of risk is extreme. U.S. citizens in Venezuela should exercise caution and leave the country as soon as it is safe to do so,” the official State Department statement reads.

The recommendation comes after the resumption of international flights from Venezuela, although ticket availability is limited and demand is high.

Alert about militias searching for Americans

The warning details that militia groups, known as colectivos, have set up checkpoints and are conducting vehicle inspections looking for evidence of U.S. citizenship or indications of support for the United States.

Travelers should remain vigilant and exercise extreme caution when traveling by road. In addition, the country faces intermittent power outages and disruptions to public services, impacting mobility and security.

Travel Advisory at its highest level

The U.S. State Department confirmed that Venezuela is under a Level 4 Travel Advisory, the highest level, due to risks such as arbitrary detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and deficiencies in healthcare infrastructure.

Since March 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas has suspended all operations and withdrawn its diplomatic personnel, so consular services, both routine and emergency, remain suspended.

The State Department advises U.S. citizens still in Venezuela:

How to get assistance?

For assistance, the U.S. Embassy in Bogota has provided the following numbers: (+57)-601-275-2000, and from U.S. or Canada: 1-888-407-4747.Updates can also be found on their official website https://co.usembassy.gov/.

The State Department emphasizes that citizens who decide to remain in Venezuela should exercise extreme caution and follow all security recommendations. The alert underscores that the risks to Americans in Venezuela continue to be “serious and unpredictable.”

The arrest of Nicolas Maduro

The government's call comes a week after U.S. armed forces raided Caracas to arrest President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who are accused of narcoterrorism.