US advises against traveling to Venezuela

The U.S. State Department has once again issued a strong advisory urging American citizens to refrain from traveling to Venezuela due to severe instability, amid escalating concerns that former President Trump may be planning military action in the country. The advisory classifies Venezuela at Level 4: Do Not Travel.

The notice, released Wednesday, emphasizes that Americans should avoid visiting or staying in Venezuela because of significant risks including wrongful detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary law enforcement, crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare.

Do not travel to Venezuela for any reason, the advisory states. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents currently in Venezuela are urged to leave immediately.

This updated warning replaces the previous one from May 12 and primarily highlights the countrys internal instability rather than direct conflict with the United States. The State Department has not specified whether any particular incident prompted this renewed travel alert.

In a similar case in August 2023, Americans were advised to leave Belarus immediately due to border closures and security threats linked to the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, amid heightened tensions during Russias war in Ukraine.

Tensions between Washington and Caracas have increased. On Wednesday, Trump stated that the U.S. will soon launch land operations against alleged drug traffickers in Venezuela. And very soon, were going to start doing it on land, too, because we know every route. We know every house. We know where they manufacture this stuff, Trump said.

Trump made these remarks in response to questions about whether officials involved in prior strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean had violated laws governing armed conflict. The strikes, carried out in September, included follow-up attacks on suspected drug boats.

While Trump frames his actions as a campaign against drug trafficking and illegal migration, there are reports suggesting he may consider moves to challenge Venezuelan President Nicols Maduros government. Venezuela sends us drugs, but Venezuela sends us people that they shouldnt be sending, Trump said.

The State Department notes that Venezuela is a major source and transit point for illicit drugs, although fentanyl, the leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S., is primarily trafficked from Mexico. In 2025, the department officially categorized Venezuela as a significant illicit drug-producing and transit country.

Author: Ethan Caldwell