The United States Department of State has issued an extensive and urgent advisory warning its citizens and permanent residents about the severe dangers currently present in Venezuela, outlining an array of grave risks that make travel to the country inadvisable under any circumstances. The agency’s warning cites numerous critical threats, including the high likelihood of wrongful detention, incidents of kidnapping, pervasive crime, unpredictable outbreaks of civil unrest, terrorism, and a dangerously inadequate public health infrastructure. Given these conditions, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are not merely discouraged but explicitly advised to leave Venezuela immediately and to refrain from traveling there “for any reason whatsoever.” The U.S. Embassy in Caracas has been inoperative since 2019, which means there is no functioning American diplomatic or consular presence capable of offering emergency or routine assistance anywhere within Venezuelan territory.
The State Department further elaborates that Venezuelan security forces have, in several documented cases, detained U.S. citizens without due process for extended periods—sometimes reaching as long as five years. These arrests, frequently described as arbitrary and politically motivated, have been accompanied by reports of degrading treatment: former detainees recount experiences of torture, intimidation, and other violations of fundamental human rights standards. International human rights organizations have repeatedly drawn attention to the nation’s pattern of unlawful detentions, inhumane prison conditions, and the use of torture. The Venezuelan government, however, has rejected these assessments, denouncing them as “interventionist.” Official statements have dismissed allegations of due process violations and human rights abuses as “irresponsible, biased, and deeply polarized,” according to accounts summarized by CNN.
The situation is further deteriorated by the prevalence of violent crime throughout the country. The State Department emphasizes that incidents of murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking occur regularly and that criminal organizations—often heavily armed and well-organized—operate with virtual impunity. In several border regions, Colombian terrorist factions maintain an open presence, exploiting weak governance and porous frontiers. Political demonstrations are frequent and unpredictable; what begin as peaceful gatherings may rapidly escalate into violent clashes when state security forces intervene. Authorities have reportedly used tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, leading to injuries and further instability.
Terrorist elements have also been known to target sites that attract foreign visitors and local patrons alike, such as hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and public transportation hubs. Against this backdrop of insecurity, Venezuela is also grappling with widespread shortages of essential goods. Fuel, electricity, food, and medical resources are chronically scarce. Public hospitals, many operating in conditions of near collapse, often lack critical supplies—including running water, basic medicines, and trained personnel. Even private healthcare facilities face considerable strain, while medical evacuation services are both logistically difficult and prohibitively expensive for most people. For travelers who nevertheless choose to ignore the current advisory, the State Department recommends extreme preparation: drafting or updating a legal will, considering the employment of private security professionals during their stay, and creating a detailed communication plan with relatives or trusted contacts in the event of abduction or detention.
The Department underscores in unequivocal terms that there exists “no safe method of travel to Venezuela.” Particularly perilous, it notes, is the area extending fifty miles from the entire Venezuelan–Colombian border, which is characterized by an exceptionally high level of armed conflict, smuggling activity, and militant presence. Travelers are strongly urged to avoid all forms of public transportation; if driving becomes unavoidable, they are cautioned to employ defensive driving techniques due to poorly maintained and poorly marked roads. In Caracas, the capital, severe traffic congestion frequently provides opportunities for armed motorcyclists to approach and rob drivers trapped in gridlock.
Financial and digital fraud are also rampant: online scams, especially romance fraud and schemes targeting relatives of foreign nationals, are widespread. Even in Venezuela’s principal cities, the tap water is unsafe for consumption, and temporary or prolonged shortages of running water are common. Communicable diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus, chikungunya, malaria, Chagas disease, measles, and travelers’ diarrhea are endemic to many regions. These health risks, combined with the country’s shortage of medical care and critical supplies, compound the hazards facing any visitor. The overarching conclusion of the State Department’s warning is unambiguous: given the breadth of security, health, and humanitarian challenges, the risks of traveling to Venezuela far outweigh any conceivable justification for doing so.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/caribbean-travel-state-department-advisory-guide
