(NewsNation) — The federal government is urging any U.S. citizens in Venezuela to leave “immediately” and to beware of armed militias as they make their exit.
The security alert was posted online by the U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs, comes one week after U.S. forces snatched Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from Caracas to face federal drug-related charges in New York.
Venezuela has a Level 4 travel advisory, meaning, “Do Not Travel” there, because of “severe risks to Americans, including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure,” officials said.
“The security situation in Venezuela remains fluid. As international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately,” the security alert added. “Before departure, U.S. citizens should take precautions and be aware of their surroundings.”
“There are reports of groups of armed militias, known as colectivos, setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States. Remain vigilant and exercise caution when traveling by road.”
The Trump administration has threatened further military intervention in Venezuela if the acting government there does not cooperate with the U.S. So far, Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has signaled she will work with the White House.
President Trump on Friday met with oil executives in Washington in hopes of getting them to invest in Venezuela, but some expressed concerns about the Caribbean nation’s stability.