The U.S. government has urged all American citizens currently in Venezuela to leave the country as soon as possible amid rising concerns over security and growing militia activity, marking one of the strongest warnings issued for the region in recent years.
In a security alert distributed on January 10 by the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, citizens were cautioned that the situation in Venezuela remains “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” the highest advisory classification issued by the U.S. State Department. The notice cited increased risks of arbitrary detention, kidnapping, terrorism, civil unrest, and the ongoing deterioration of healthcare systems.
Officials say the immediate call to depart is partly due to the reopening of select international flight routes following extended disruptions. Travel seats, however, are expected to be limited, and citizens were advised to act quickly if they intend to leave by air.
A new factor intensifying the warning involves reports of armed pro-government colectivos establishing road checkpoints across major transit routes. Intelligence suggests these groups have been stopping vehicles and questioning occupants about their links to the United States. Witnesses and civil society groups have described motorcycle patrols in several Caracas districts and heightened military presence along routes leading out of the capital.
Because the United States removed all diplomatic personnel from Caracas in early 2019, Washington noted that it cannot provide emergency support or consular services on Venezuelan soil. All emergency assistance must instead be coordinated through the U.S. Embassy in Colombia or directly through the State Department’s emergency hotlines.
The alert comes at a tense moment for Venezuela following the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro one week earlier during a U.S. special operations raid that drew international scrutiny. Acting leader Delcy Rodríguez has publicly appealed for normalized relations, while state media released recordings over the weekend claiming Maduro and his wife are “in good condition” while awaiting trial in the United States.
Caracas rejected the U.S. security advisory as political interference, insisting that the nation remains peaceful and secure. In a statement, Venezuela’s foreign ministry accused Washington of manufacturing a climate of fear and asserted that state institutions continue to operate normally.
Independent journalists have disputed those claims, citing visible deployments of colectivos and increased searches at border corridors. Travelers have reported long delays at checkpoints manned by both armed militias and government security forces.
The U.S. alert advised citizens to avoid road travel when possible, establish fallback communication methods, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and prepare their own evacuation plans should conditions worsen.
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