• The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Venezuela, advising against all travel.
• Venezuela is reported to hold more U.S. citizens in detention than any other country.
• Americans face risks of wrongful detention, torture, and civil unrest in Venezuela.

The U.S. State Department has issued a severe travel alert for Venezuela, categorizing it as "Level 4: Do Not Travel" due to a multitude of serious risks faced by American citizens. These include "wrongful detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, unfair law enforcement practices, violent crime, and inadequate healthcare," as stated by the Department. U.S. citizens currently in Venezuela are urged to leave immediately, as there is no operational U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country to provide assistance, according to aa and CBS News.

The State Department highlighted that more U.S. citizens are being held unjustly in Venezuela than in any other country, with at least eight Americans known to be detained. Reports indicate that Americans may face detention upon entering Venezuela, where they could be unjustly charged with serious crimes like terrorism. This situation is alarming, particularly since the Venezuelan government does not report detentions to U.S. authorities, limiting the options for intervention, according to ABC News and The Hill.

Travel close to Venezuelan borders with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana is especially risky, as accidental crossings can lead to detention due to minimal border markings. The U.S. has emphasized that dual citizenship or having a Venezuelan visa will not protect American travelers under these precarious circumstances. Officials strongly recommend that U.S. citizens avoid travel and leave Venezuela if currently present, consistent with warnings from both the State Department and various U.S. embassies in neighboring countries, as noted by CBS News and aa.