The U.S. State Department on Tuesday warned Americans not to travel to Venezuela for any reason.
“Americans who travel to Venezuela or nearby border regions risk being wrongfully detained in prison for months or even years,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said during a briefing. “I cannot emphasize enough the gravity of this warning.”
She said more U.S. nationals are detained in Venezuela than any other country. President Donald Trump had been able to free several Americans in Venezuela, Bruce said. She also said the State Department continues to work to free every American wrongfully detained in the South American nation.
“We need to make sure no additional Americans are falling into this trap,” Bruce said. “Our simple message for Americans: Do not travel to Venezuela.”
The Department of State assigns Venezuela its highest Travel Advisory level – Level 4: Do Not Travel – due to severe risks including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, unfair law enforcement practices, violent crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare. U.S. embassies in countries bordering Venezuela and with direct air links to Venezuela, have released security alerts highlighting these risks.
U.S. citizens in Venezuela face a significant and growing risk of wrongful detention. More U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country. 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.
“There is no U.S. embassy or consulate operating in Venezuela. Venezuelan authorities do not notify the U.S. government when U.S. citizens are detained or allow U.S. officials to visit them. Detainees are frequently denied access to family members and legal counsel. The United States cannot provide routine or emergency consular assistance to U.S. nationals in Venezuela,” the State Department notice said. “Americans often travel to Venezuela with or to see loved ones or spouses’ families; they face the same risks as other travelers. Family members of U.S. nationals are often detained alongside the American traveler. Visiting Venezuela puts other people at risk.”
The State Department said dual citizenship, a Venezuelan visa, past travel to Venezuela, or a job in Venezuela does not protect U.S. national travelers.
“Every American is at risk of being detained by Maduro’s regime,” according to the notice.
The U.S. Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens in Venezuela leave immediately. Anyone with U.S. citizenship or any other U.S. residency status in Venezuela should leave the country immediately, including those traveling on Venezuelan or other foreign passports.
