U.S. Issues Major Travel Warning for Venezuela

The U.S. has issued a major travel warning for Venezuela. The alert includes these suggestions:

• Do not travel to Venezuela.
• U.S. citizens in Venezuela should depart immediately.
• Avoid all Venezuelan borders.

“Do not travel to Venezuela for any reason and avoid Venezuelan borders with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana,” the U.S. Department of State wrote on May 27, 2025.

“The U.S. government warns U.S. citizens against travel to Venezuela for any reason. Venezuela has the highest Travel Advisory level – Level 4: Do Not Travel – due to severe risks to Americans including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure,” the travel warning says.

“More U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country. Other foreign nationals in Venezuela are also frequently unjustly detained. U.S. citizens in Venezuela should depart immediately,” it adds. “There is no U.S. embassy or consulate operating in Venezuela and the U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.”

According to Fox News, “more U.S. nationals are wrongfully detained in Venezuela  than anywhere else in the world.”

Venezuelan borders with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana “are not clearly marked in many locations. Do not go near the border due to the risk of crossing into Venezuela accidentally and being detained,” the Department of State warns.

“U.S. citizens are at extreme risk of detention when entering Venezuela at any location. They may be unjustly charged with terrorism or other serious crimes and detained for long periods. U.S. citizens have been detained upon arrival at land borders, airports, and maritime ports of entry,” the warning says. “There is no safe way for Americans to travel to Venezuela.”

Venezuelan authorities “do not inform the U.S. government of the detention of U.S. citizens and the U.S. government is not able to visit those citizens. Venezuelan authorities do not allow detained U.S. citizens to contact family members or private attorneys,” the release adds.

Related: U.S. Travel Warnings Urge ‘Increased Caution’ in Germany, Spain