- The U.S. State Department issued its highest-level travel warning for Venezuela, citing wrongful detentions, torture, terrorism, and violent crime.
- More Americans are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country, some for up to five years without due process.
- Venezuela’s Maduro regime targets U.S. citizens, detaining them on fabricated charges while denying legal rights or consular access.
- Crime, collapsing infrastructure, and dangerous borders make Venezuela unsafe, with no functioning U.S. embassy for assistance.
- Americans in Venezuela are urged to leave immediately, but passport shortages and counterfeit black markets leave many stranded.
The U.S. State Department has issued its most severe travel advisory for Venezuela, warning Americans to avoid the crisis-stricken nation at all costs due to rampant wrongful detentions, torture, terrorism, and violent crime. In a May 27 alert, officials revealed that "more U.S. citizens are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country," with some imprisoned for up to five years without due process. With no functioning U.S. embassy, Americans trapped in Venezuela are urged to flee immediately, but shortages of travel documents and a black market for counterfeit passports have left tens of thousands stranded in what critics call an open-air prison under the oppressive Maduro regime.
A regime hostile to Americans
Venezuela’s socialist government, led by Nicolás Maduro, has systematically targeted U.S. citizens, detaining them under fabricated charges such as terrorism while denying access to legal counsel or family contact. The State Department warns that "Venezuelan security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years without respect to due process, in harsh conditions—including torture—frequently based solely on their U.S. nationality or U.S. passport." Even dual citizens or those traveling on Venezuelan visas are not safe as the regime views American ties as grounds for persecution.
The U.S. has no diplomatic presence in Venezuela after withdrawing embassy staff in 2019, leaving detained Americans without consular support. Venezuelan authorities refuse to notify the U.S. of arrests, effectively disappearing prisoners into a justice system notorious for corruption and abuse. "There is no safe way for Americans to travel to Venezuela," the State Department emphasized, noting detentions at airports, land borders, and ports.
Collapsing infrastructure and lawlessness
Beyond wrongful imprisonment, Venezuela is engulfed in a street crime epidemic, with murder, kidnapping, and carjacking surging amid economic collapse. The State Department cites "arbitrary enforcement of local laws, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure" as additional risks. Medical care is scarce, pharmacies lack basic medicines, and violent protests—met with brutal crackdowns by security forces—are common.
Borders with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana are particularly hazardous, with unmarked boundaries increasing the risk of accidental crossings. Colombian terrorist groups operate in these regions, and travelers face abduction or false accusations of espionage. The State Department bluntly advises: "Avoid all Venezuelan borders."
Despite years of warnings, some Americans still venture into Venezuela, often with tragic consequences. Those who ignore the advisory are instructed to prepare wills, establish "proof of life" protocols, and hire private security in a sobering acknowledgment of the government’s inability to protect visitors. The travel document shortage exacerbates the danger, as those attempting to leave may find themselves trapped in bureaucratic limbo or forced into the counterfeit passport trade.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned Venezuela’s actions, linking them to broader threats against liberty. "Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country," he declared, signaling a tougher stance against regimes that target U.S. citizens.
Venezuela’s descent into lawlessness serves as a reminder of the consequences of authoritarian rule. The Maduro regime’s hostility toward Americans and its blatant disregard for human rights demands global attention. For now, the message is clear: Do not travel to Venezuela. Those who are already there must escape while they still can.
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