Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Joe Raedle
Topics: US News, World News
Poppy Bilderbeck
The US government has warned citizens 'against travel' to a major tourist destination 'for any reason'.
The US Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela released an urgent warning on its website on May 27.
The release urges US citizens not to travel to the country 'for any reason' and to also 'avoid Venezuelan borders with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana'.
The State Department has warned against travel to Venezuela for years - the country's Travel Advisory level at the highest level of four - with March 2019 seeing the temporary suspension of operations of the US Embassy in Caracas and withdrawal of diplomatic personnel.
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However, with more US nationals having been wrongfully detained in the country, the department has ramped up its alert.
In a release shared earlier this week, the US government detailed the 'severe risks' which citizens face should they travel to the country.
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The risks include:
The alert alleges 'more US nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country'.
"Other foreign nationals in Venezuela are also frequently unjustly detained," it adds.
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It states US citizens 'may be unjustly charged with terrorism or other serious crimes and detained for long periods' drawing on examples which have seen citizens 'detained upon arrival at land borders, airports, and maritime ports of entry.'
It adds: "Venezuelan authorities do not inform the US government of the detention of US citizens and the US government is not able to visit those citizens. Venezuelan authorities do not allow detained US citizens to contact family members or private attorneys."
But what about any US citizens currently in Venezuela?
The government explains there 'is no US embassy or consulate operating in Venezuela' and it 'cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to US citizens in Venezuela'.
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It ultimately advises: "There is no safe way for Americans to travel to Venezuela.
"[...] The US Department of State recommends that all US citizens in Venezuela leave immediately."
It also notes citizens shouldn't go near any of the Venezuelan borders with 'Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana' either - which 'are not clearly marked in many locations'.
"Do not go near the border due to the risk of crossing into Venezuela accidentally and being detained," it adds.