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The U.S. government issued an alert today warning U.S. citizens against travel to Venezuela. The Department of State assigns Venezuela its highest Travel Advisory level—Level 4: Do Not Travel—due to severe risks including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, unfair law enforcement practices, violent crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare. U.S. embassies in countries bordering Venezuela, as well as countries with direct air links to Venezuela, have released security alerts highlighting these risks.

U.S. citizens in Venezuela face a significant and growing risk of wrongful detention. More U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country. Venezuelan security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years without respect to due process, in harsh conditions—including torture—frequently based solely on their U.S. nationality or U.S. passport.

There is no U.S. embassy or consulate operating in Venezuela. Venezuelan authorities do not notify the U.S. government when U.S. citizens are detained or allow U.S. officials to visit them. Detainees are frequently denied access to family members and legal counsel. The United States cannot provide routine or emergency consular assistance to U.S. nationals in Venezuela.