The United States and Venezuela have issued reciprocal travel warnings, advising their respective citizens against traveling to the other country. The U.S. cited the risk of wrongful detention in Venezuela, while Venezuela claimed its citizens face systematic human rights abuses in the U.S.
The U.S. State Department stated, “U.S. citizens in Venezuela face a significant and growing risk of wrongful detention,” assigning Venezuela its highest travel alert level, Level 4: Do Not Travel. The State Department also cited additional risks, including torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, unfair law enforcement practices, violent crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare. The U.S. does not have an embassy or consulate in Venezuela, further complicating matters for American citizens who may need assistance.
The U.S. government has repeatedly stated that there are Americans being unfairly detained in Venezuela. While one man was freed this month and others were released in January, the State Department maintains that the risk of wrongful detention remains high.
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In response, Venezuela issued a travel alert for the U.S. and urged its citizens residing there to consider leaving. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil stated on Telegram, “Venezuelans in the United States are victims of a systematic pattern of abuses of their human rights, being arbitrarily detained, separated from their families, and transported to concentration camps in third countries.”
Venezuela has specifically criticized the use of a 1798 law by former U.S. President Donald Trump to deport hundreds of migrants from the U.S. to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The Venezuelan government views this policy as a violation of the human rights of Venezuelan migrants in the U.S.
The U.S. Supreme Court has maintained its block on Trump’s use of the 1798 law, faulting his administration for attempting to remove migrants without adequate legal process. This legal battle highlights the ongoing debate in the U.S. regarding immigration policy and the rights of migrants.
The exchange of travel warnings underscores the increasingly strained relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela. The two countries have a long history of diplomatic tensions, and the recent travel advisories reflect a further deterioration in bilateral relations.
