U.S. embassy warns militias are checking travelers for American citizenship

The U.S. Embassy responsible for Venezuela has issued a new alert warning American citizens not to travel to the country and urging those currently there to leave immediately, amid reports of militias searching travelers for U.S. citizenship.

In a statement posted Saturday, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas said Venezuela remains under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, warnings that have been in place since 2019. The embassy said U.S. citizens in Venezuela should depart the country immediately now that international flights have resumed.

The embassy warned of reports that armed militias known as ‘colectivos’ are setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States. It advised U.S. citizens to remain vigilant and exercise caution, particularly when traveling by road.

The notice said intermittent power and utility outages continue across the country.

The U.S. government said Venezuela carries severe risks for Americans, including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.

The embassy withdrew all diplomatic personnel from its Caracas mission in March 2019 and suspended operations, relocating them to the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.

All consular services, including routine and emergency assistance, remain unavailable, and the U.S. government said it is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.

The warning comes amid heightened tensions following a recent U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Venezuela’s interior minister said at least 100 people were killed in the operation, alleging civilians were among the dead.