HOUSTON — Americans traveling south should definitely avoid this popular South American destination, according to the U.S. State Department.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory on May 13 warning Americans against traveling to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
This is a Level 4 travel advisory, meaning Americans should not visit the country. The state department said Americans should reconsider travel there due to wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure.
Back in March 2019, the State Department withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas and suspended operations.
This means if a U.S. citizen required emergency assistance while in the South American country, the U.S. government would not be able to help.
U.S. citizens who require assistance should try to leave the country as soon as safely possible to do so and should contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in another country, the State Department said in its advisory.
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Crime in Venezuela
The U.S. State Department said violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela along with political rallies and demonstrations.
U.S. officials said anti-Maduro demonstrations have elicited a strong police and security force response, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants, and occasionally devolve into looting and vandalism.
The State Department has determined there is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela. Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years.
The U.S. government is also not generally notified of the detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela or granted access to U.S. citizen prisoners there.
Authorities also say Colombian terrorist groups operate in Venezuela’s border areas with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana.
Traveling to Venezuela
If you decide to travel to Venezuela:
- Avoid all land border crossings into Venezuela on the Colombian border.
- Ensure you have a valid Venezuelan visa. Visas are not available upon arrival.
- Be prepared for the high risk of indefinite detention without consular access.
- Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
- Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization. Establish a “proof of life” protocol with your loved ones, so that if you are taken hostage, your loved ones know specific questions (and answers) to ask the hostage-takers to be sure that you are alive (and to rule out a hoax).
- Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
- Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
- Avoid travel between cities, or between Simón Bolívar International Airport and Caracas at night.
- Do not take unregulated taxis from the Maiquetia “Simón Bolívar” International Airport and avoid ATMs in this area.
- Consider hiring a professional security organization.
- Bring a sufficient supply of over the counter and prescription medicines for the duration of travel.
- Consider purchasing medical evacuation insurance.
