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yesterday

U.S. Warns of Severe Detention Risks and Urges Citizens to Avoid Travel to Venezuela

U.S. citizens are urged to depart immediately because there is no embassy to assist those wrongfully detained by Venezuelan authorities.

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The U.S. Department of State sign in Washington, DC. Photo: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Overview

  • The State Department reissued its Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory on May 27 and U.S. embassies in Colombia, Brazil, Guyana and Aruba released similar security alerts.
  • More U.S. nationals are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country, with some held up to five years without due process and subjected to torture.
  • Venezuelan authorities routinely fail to notify the U.S. government when citizens are arrested and deny detained Americans access to family members or private attorneys.
  • Trump administration envoys negotiated the release of seven Americans earlier this year and secured freedom for U.S. Air Force veteran Joseph St. Clair last week.
  • The department warns that Americans risk detention even near Venezuelan borders after Lucas Hunter was coerced across from Colombia and urges all U.S. nationals to leave immediately.