The U.S. State Department has heightened its warning against travel to Venezuela, reissuing its advisory on May 12, 2025, with new and more severe language that urges “[a]ll U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents in Venezuela” to “depart immediately.”
The revised alert not only underscores existing dangers such as wrongful detention and civil unrest, but introduces alarming mentions of torture in detention and directs Americans to “prepare a will” if they intend to travel.
The new travel advisory replaces a September 2024 version that had warned of wrongful detentions but did not previously include guidance as severe or specific.
Why It Matters
The updated advisory marks a rare instance where the U.S. government openly advises citizens to create a will and designate power of attorney before visiting a country, emphasizing what the State Department describes as an “extreme danger.”
Tensions between the two countries remain high. The U.S. Treasury Department revoked Chevron’s license to export Venezuelan oil, prompting Nicolás Maduro’s government to suspend deportation flights on March 8. An agreement to restart repatriation flights carrying immigrants who were in the U.S. illegally was reached later that same month.
What Is the Updated Travel Advice for Venezuela?
The advisory states: “Do not travel to or remain in Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure.”
It also directs: “If you decide to travel to Venezuela…Prepare a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.”
The U.S. has not had a functioning embassy in Caracas since March 2019, leaving Americans in Venezuela without consular support or evacuation options.
The most significant changes from the 2024 advisory to the 2025 update include:
- Immediate Departure Directive: The September 2024 advisory urged Americans to leave “as soon as safely possible.” The new version states they are “strongly advised to depart immediately.”
- Explicit Torture Allegations: The 2025 version includes new detail that “detainees have been subjected to torture and cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment, including severe beatings, prolonged restraint in stress positions, and waterboarding.”
- No Consular Contact: The advisory warns: “The U.S. government has no way to contact U.S. nationals detained in Venezuela, and those detained are not allowed to contact family members or independent legal counsel.”
- Legal Preparations Before Travel: The advisory explicitly tells travelers: “Prepare a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.”
- Arbitrary Detention Risks: It states: “Visas and residence permits may be canceled at any time without warning, and U.S. citizens holding a valid visa may be arbitrarily detained at any time.”
The warning also advises against all forms of entry into Venezuela, including over land borders, and highlights additional safety risks like nighttime travel and the lack of medical care or pharmaceutical availability.
What’s Next
The advisory leaves little ambiguity: Americans should leave Venezuela immediately and not expect assistance from the U.S. government if they remain.
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