State Department elevates warnings as reports cite armed groups and roadblocks near major routes.
WASHINGTON, DC — The United States urged its citizens in Venezuela to leave the country immediately on Saturday, citing a rapidly deteriorating security situation, armed groups operating checkpoints and the U.S. government’s limited ability to assist. The alert followed a week of political turmoil and intermittent disruptions to transportation in and around Caracas.
The new warning raises the stakes for Americans still in Venezuela and underscores Washington’s assessment that conditions remain volatile. U.S. officials said international flights have resumed but remain subject to sudden changes and that armed civilians and militias have been seen on roads commonly used to reach airports. The advisory continues a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” notice that has been in place and reflects an environment U.S. authorities describe as unpredictable, with risks that include wrongful detention, armed crime and roadblocks. Venezuelan officials have disputed accounts of widespread disorder, but U.S. authorities said they are receiving credible reports of targeted checks and potential threats to U.S. nationals.
In its Saturday alert, the U.S. Embassy team responsible for Venezuela said plainly that “U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately,” adding that the government’s ability to provide emergency services is extremely limited. The message cited reports of armed groups establishing ad hoc checkpoints, searching vehicles and questioning travelers along primary corridors in and around the capital. “As international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately,” the notice said. The language mirrors past advisories that warned of criminal groups and pro-government colectivos who have, at times, patrolled urban neighborhoods and major arteries. A U.S. official, speaking in the alert, emphasized that routes to airports can change without notice and that the situation remains fluid.
The advisory lands amid a larger political crisis that has reshaped the country’s leadership and security posture. In recent days, rights organizations reported a wave of prisoner releases while noting that many political detainees remain in custody. Public gatherings have alternated between calm and tense, and images from Caracas have shown armed civilians near intersections close to government buildings. The number of U.S. citizens currently in Venezuela is unknown; the United States has maintained only limited in-country staffing in recent years. Airlines serving departures from the capital have restored some service, according to U.S. officials, but schedules have been inconsistent and subject to last-minute changes. Local authorities have said they are in control of the streets and called reports of widespread checkpoints exaggerated. The U.S. alert, however, described multiple, recent accounts of armed groups stopping vehicles and inspecting identification.
The latest warning fits into years of strained relations and disrupted consular operations. The United States withdrew most diplomatic personnel from Venezuela in 2019, relying on outside posts and periodic in-country teams to relay security information. Travel advisories have remained at the highest level for much of that period because of kidnapping risks, violent crime and infrastructure shortfalls. Human rights groups say ordinary Venezuelans have faced long-running shortages and political repression, conditions that prompted millions to leave the country over the last decade. The current security concerns, officials say, add uncertainty for residents and visitors navigating Caracas, Maracaibo and border routes, where criminal bands and armed civilians have previously exerted control. Saturday’s alert marks one of the clearest calls in recent years for immediate departure by any remaining U.S. citizens.
U.S. officials outlined limited procedural steps alongside the warning. The State Department said it would continue to issue updates as conditions change and that citizens should rely on commercial options so long as flights are operating. The advisory reiterated that the U.S. government cannot provide routine consular services in Venezuela and may be constrained in coordinating emergency assistance. Venezuelan authorities, for their part, said they are maintaining order and that travel within the country continues under normal conditions. No new curfews or movement restrictions were announced by Caracas on Saturday, though the U.S. alert cautioned that road conditions and access to airports could shift quickly. Additional statements from Washington are expected in the coming days if transport schedules or security conditions change again.
On the streets of eastern Caracas, residents described a city that felt on edge even when traffic appeared normal. A shopkeeper in Chacao said he saw small groups of armed men on motorcycles “speeding up and down the avenue” and occasional makeshift stops on feeder roads. A driver who frequently runs passengers to the airport said he avoided certain exits off the Francisco Fajardo due to rumors of checkpoints. “People are nervous,” he said, noting that pickup times now take into account possible detours. Some flights departed on schedule Saturday, passengers said, while others were delayed without clear explanations. Neighborhoods farther from the center saw fewer disruptions, according to residents, but many said they were watching news and social feeds closely for updates before starting long drives.
As of late Saturday, the U.S. warning remained in effect, with officials saying they would reassess based on on-the-ground reports and airport operations. Venezuelan authorities continued to assert that public order was normal. Further U.S. updates are expected if flight schedules change or if security officials report new checkpoints along arterial roads in and around Caracas.
Author note: Last updated January 11, 2026.