Background on US-Venezuela Relations
The United States government has issued a new travel advisory for Venezuela, warning of a high risk of unjust detentions for American citizens. This comes as the Maduro government accuses the US of engaging in a smear campaign against the Caribbean nation.
In 2019, during Donald Trump’s first administration, the US broke off relations with Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government and placed Venezuela at the highest travel advisory level (“Do Not Travel”) due to crime, unrest, inadequate healthcare services, kidnapping, and arbitrary detentions.
A similar advisory was issued by US authorities in July 2022.
Content of the New Travel Advisory
On Monday, the US Department of State emphasized that there is a significant risk of unjust detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary application of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure for travelers to Venezuela.
According to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, which documents political arrests, there were seven US citizens detained in Venezuela as of February 2025, two of whom held resident status.
The advisory strongly recommends that all US citizens and legal permanent residents in Venezuela leave the country immediately.
Historical Context and Maduro Government’s Response
In March 2019, the US evacuated its diplomatic personnel from Venezuela two months after Caracas announced the severance of relations in response to Washington’s recognition of Juan Guaidó’s opposition-led interim government.
The Venezuelan government responded to the new travel advisory by calling it a “hostile act laden with cynicism, racism, and political propaganda” aiming to fuel the ongoing aggression campaign against Venezuela.
Maduro’s government further criticizes the US for lacking moral authority to discuss human rights, citing alleged mistreatment of Venezuelan migrants “held captive in El Salvador” and subjected to inhumane conditions, including confinement in prison-like facilities.
Caracas highlights images of children in cages, separated families, arbitrary deportations, and detention centers reminiscent of concentration camps as evidence of the US’s questionable human rights record.
Despite strained relations, both countries have been repatriating hundreds of Venezuelans since February under a deportation agreement.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the new travel advisory issued by the US for Venezuela? The US Department of State warned American citizens and residents about the high risk of unjust detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary application of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure in Venezuela.
- Why did the Maduro government react to this advisory? The Venezuelan government accused the US of engaging in a smear campaign and criticized its lack of moral authority to discuss human rights, citing alleged mistreatment of Venezuelan migrants in El Salvador.
- What is the current state of US-Venezuela relations? Although there are no formal diplomatic ties, both countries have been repatriating Venezuelan migrants under a deportation agreement since February.
