Venezuela’s socialist government dismissed the U.S. State Department’s travel warning as “extremely dangerous,” asserting that it was a “cynical” and “racist” attack against the country.
On Monday, the U.S. Department of State issued a “Level 4: Don’t Travel” alert, advising its citizens in Venezuela to avoid travel and leave due to the significant risk of illegal detention, torture, and other dangers.
The U.S. Embassy in Caracas has been closed since early 2019, following the severance of diplomatic ties by President Nicolás Maduro. Consequently, the U.S. government cannot offer consular support or emergency services to its citizens in the country.
The State Department urged anyone with U.S. citizenship or residency in Venezuela to leave immediately, advising against any travel to the country.
The Maduro administration criticized this travel advisory through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling it an antagonistic statement filled with irony and political exaggeration.
According to Venezuelan officials, the U.S. harbors unfounded suspicions about the country, claiming it engages in various illegal activities, including mistreatment and disappearance of people, even children. They pointed to the case of a two-year-old Venezuelan child, alleging a conspiracy behind her situation.
They did not, however, offer solid evidence for their claims and argued that the purpose behind the allegations was to use the child as a political pawn for anti-Maduro sentiments.
The Venezuelan statement went on to assert that the U.S. lacks the moral authority to discuss human rights issues, referencing its own history of immigration and detention practices that have drawn international condemnation.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has found that the child’s parents were linked to a notorious criminal organization, and they were removed from the U.S. for illegal entry.
The Venezuelan Foreign Office maintained that the travel alert serves as a tool for psychological manipulation and misinformation by interventionists in Washington, asserting that Venezuela welcomes respectful visitors.
The Maduro regime frequently contends that it unjustly detains both Americans and other foreigners as part of a broader plot against his government. In January, a U.S. envoy negotiated the release of several Americans wrongly detained, but at least six others remain in custody.
Other foreign detainees include an Argentine man who visited Venezuela to see family and was apprehended under dubious accusations of being a mercenary by Maduro’s government. Reports suggest that about 120 foreigners from various countries have faced similar claims.
The State Department reiterated the heightened risk of illegal detention for U.S. citizens, noting that some have been held for extended periods without proper legal proceedings. It emphasized the lack of communication from Venezuela regarding such detentions.
Despite the travel warnings, the State Department has compiled a list of recommendations for any U.S. citizen considering a trip to Venezuela, which includes preparing legal documents and establishing a communication plan with family and employers.
