The U.S. Embassy in Caracas has issued an urgent security alert urging all American citizens in Venezuela to depart the country immediately, citing severe safety risks and the inability of the U.S. government to provide emergency assistance.
The warning, issued on January 10, follows reports of armed pro-government militias known as colectivos setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States. This development comes amid heightened tensions following the U.S. military operation that captured former President Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
The State Department reiterated that Venezuela remains under a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory—its highest warning—due to risks including wrongful detention, kidnapping, terrorism, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.
The embassy emphasized that all U.S. diplomatic personnel were withdrawn from Venezuela in March 2019, leaving the government unable to provide emergency consular services. “The U.S. government continues to be unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela,” the statement noted.
With international flights now operating, officials urged Americans to leave as soon as they safely can. The warning reflects a rapidly deteriorating security environment and underscores the ongoing instability in Venezuela following Maduro’s capture and extradition to the United States.
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