US issues urgent ‘do not travel warning’ for tourist destination as it explains extreme risks of people visiting

The U.S. government has issued a strong warning to its citizens not to travel to Venezuela under any circumstances. This message, posted by the U.S. Embassy in Caracas on May 27, highlights serious dangers for anyone considering a visit to the country. They also advise people to stay far away from Venezuela’s borders with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana.

This warning isn’t new. The U.S. has been cautioning against travel to Venezuela for several years now. Back in March 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas shut down its operations, and all diplomatic staff were withdrawn. But things have become even more dangerous recently, especially because more Americans are being unfairly detained there.

The U.S. government listed several serious threats that travelers might face in Venezuela. These include being arrested for no clear reason, being mistreated or tortured while in custody, the risk of terrorism, kidnapping, sudden changes in law enforcement, widespread crime, political unrest, and poor healthcare services. They also said that Venezuela currently holds more wrongfully detained U.S. citizens than any other country in the world.

The warning explains that Americans might be accused of serious crimes like terrorism, even without evidence, and can be locked up for long periods. Some have even been arrested just for arriving at the airport or crossing the border. Venezuelan authorities don’t inform the U.S. government when they detain Americans, and they don’t allow them to contact family or hire a private lawyer.

For U.S. citizens already in Venezuela, the situation is also dangerous. There is no American embassy or consulate open in the country, so the U.S. cannot help with basic services or emergency situations. Because of this, the State Department is urging any U.S. citizens who are still in Venezuela to leave immediately if they can.

The government is also warning people not to go near the borders Venezuela shares with Colombia, Brazil, or Guyana. These areas are not always clearly marked, and people might accidentally cross into Venezuela and end up being arrested.

In short, the U.S. government is telling Americans: do not go to Venezuela. It’s not safe, and there is very little that can be done to help if something goes wrong.