×
Venezuela's authoritarian president Nicolás Maduro claimed victory in the country's July election despite evidence he lost in a landslide. In the ensuing chaos, two dozen people have been killed and 2,000 detained. A quarter of Venezuela's population had already fled the country's economic devastation and political repression, and the election has only made matters worse. Correspondent Martha Teichner looks at how the oil-rich country fell into crisis, and talks with opposition leader-in-hiding María Corina Machado; and journalist William Neuman, author of "Things Are Never So Bad That They Can't Get Worse: Inside the Collapse of Venezuela."

U.S. warns Americans not to travel to Venezuela

By Kerry Breen May 27, 2025 | 4:08 PM

▶ Watch Video: The crisis in Venezuela

The U.S. State Department is again advising American citizens not to travel to Venezuela, warning of “severe risks” including wrongful detention, kidnapping and torture. 

The State Department said that it does not have an operating embassy or consulate in the South American country, and cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens there. All U.S. citizens currently in Venezuela should leave immediately, the State Department said. 

“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,” the State Department said in a news release Tuesday. “U.S. citizens have been detained upon arrival at land borders, airports, and maritime ports of entry. There is no safe way for Americans to travel to Venezuela.” 

The State Department has been warning U.S. citizens against traveling to Venezuela for years, issuing its highest level advisory, 4, at least since March 2019 when it announced the temporary suspension of operations of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Travel advisories that rise to levels 3 and 4 are reviewed every six months at a minimum.

More U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country, the department said. In some cases, detentions have happened when people accidentally cross into Venezuela from neighboring countries, where borders may not be clearly marked. Detained Americans may also be unjustly charged with serious crimes, including terrorism, the State Department said. 

The Venezuelan government does not report detentions to the U.S. government, making it impossible for the U.S. to visit those citizens or intervene. U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela also cannot contact family members or private attorneys, the State Department said.

Other potential concerns in Venezuela include the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, civil unrest and poor health infrastructure, the State Department said. 

The map below shows State Department travel advisories by country. Hover over a country to see what level advisory it has and search for a specific nation in the table.

Travel advisories by country