The US State Department warns of wrongful detention, kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, terrorism, and extremely poor health infrastructure, and advises all US citizens and permanent residents to leave the country and not travel to Venezuela “for any reason.” The US Embassy in Caracas has been suspended since 2019 and is unable to provide consular or emergency assistance anywhere in the country.
“Security forces have arbitrarily detained US citizens for up to five years without respect for due process,” the agency said, and former detainees have reported torture and inhumane treatment.
The Venezuelan government has responded to reports from international organizations documenting arbitrary detention, inhumane conditions, and torture in the country’s prisons, calling them “interventionist.” The government has called allegations of due process and human rights violations “irresponsible, biased, and deeply polarized,” as reported by CNN.
Violent crime, including homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, is pervasive in the country, the US state department said, and criminal gangs and Colombian terrorist groups operate openly, especially in border regions. Political rallies occur often and often turn violent as police and security forces use tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants.
Terrorist groups often target places frequented by tourists, like hotels and restaurants, shopping centers, and public transportation.
Shortages of gasoline, electricity, food, medicine, and medical supplies are widespread, and public hospitals lack basic resources like water, medications, and staff. Even private facilities are strained, and medical evacuation is difficult and expensive.Those who decide to disregard the advisory and travel to Venezuela are advised to prepare a will, consider hiring professional security during their stay, and develop communication plans with family in case of kidnapping or detention, the State Department said.
The agency emphasizes that there is “no safe way to travel to Venezuela,” and notes that the area within 50 miles of the entire Venezuela-Colombia border is “extremely dangerous.”
The agency advises against using public transport and driving defensively on the roads, which are often poorly marked. Traffic jams in Caracas are often exploited by armed motorcycle gangs to rob drivers.
Internet scams, like romance schemes and relative targeting, are common in the country.
Tap water is unsafe to drink even in major cities, and shortages in running water are frequent. Diseases like dengue, Zika, chikungunya, malaria, Chagas disease, measles, travelers’ diarrhea, and other infectious illnesses are prevalent.
