The U.S. government issued a new security alert on Saturday calling on Americans in Venezuela to leave the country immediately, citing security concerns and the U.S. government’s inability to provide emergency assistance, the U.S. government said. American Embassy Caracas.
“US citizens in Venezuela must leave the country immediately,” the embassy said in a Jan. 10 security alert.
The warning cited reports of armed groups operating on Venezuelan roads.
“There are reports of groups of armed militias, known as ‘colectivos,’ setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States,” the U.S. Embassy Caracas said.
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The warning comes as international travel has reopened.
“Now that international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately,” the embassy said.
Armed, pro-government civilians block the streets in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 3, after President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
The U.S. State Department continues to place Venezuela on the highest level of travel alerts.
“Venezuela has the highest travel advisory level – level 4: do not travel – due to the serious risks to Americans,” the State Department said.
These risks include “unlawful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest and poor health infrastructure,” the State Department said.
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Protesters critical of the government clash with state security forces in Venezuela. (Rafael Hernandez/Picture Alliance/Getty Images)
The embassy said Americans in Venezuela should not expect consular assistance.
“In March 2019, the U.S. Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the U.S. Embassy Caracas and suspended operations,” the embassy said. “The U.S. government remains unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.”
A supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro protests his removal from the country by US forces on January 3. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
As part of the warning, officials issued a clear warning to the Americans.
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“Do not travel to Venezuela,” the embassy said. “US citizens in Venezuela are advised to leave Venezuela as soon as they believe it is safe to do so.”
