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U.S. official warns Americans not to travel to Venezuela over wrongful-detention risk
Summary
A U.S. government staff member on Friday warned Americans, including dual nationals and lawful permanent residents, not to travel to Venezuela because of a high risk of wrongful detention; the official said there were no wrongfully detained U.S. nationals in the country as of Friday evening.
As of Friday evening, there are no wrongfully detained Americans in Venezuela, a U.S. government staff member said, and U.S. authorities “want to keep it that way.” The staff member warned Americans not to travel to Venezuela because of a high risk of wrongful detention.
The official said the government is “committed to doing everything we can to prevent one American national from being wrongfully detained by the Venezuelan regime ever again” and reiterated a clear warning that no one should travel to Venezuela.
The statement said the risk applies to Americans who travel to Venezuela, nearby border regions, dual nationals and lawful permanent residents. The staff member added that Americans who travel there “risk being wrongfully detained for months or even years” and that release is not guaranteed.
The remarks in the transcript are a warning rather than a policy change or a formal travel advisory notice recorded in the transcript; the speaker did not identify a specific issuing agency in the excerpt provided. The transcript also did not specify any new enforcement steps, travel restrictions, or guidance about consular services.
Officials, travelers and family members seeking more detail should look for any formal travel advisory from the relevant U.S. agency; the transcripted remarks here serve as a public caution about the risk of detention in Venezuela.
