US warns Americans against traveling to Venezuela over 'significant risk of wrongful detention'

The State Department on Tuesday warned Americans against traveling to Venezuela, stating there was a "significant risk of wrongful detention" by the country's government.

The department raised the travel advisory for the South American country to level four, the highest level, which instructs all Americans not to travel to the country. 

The government said Americans face a higher risk of "wrongful detention" in the country, along with "torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, unfair law enforcement practices, violent crime, civil unrest, and inadequate healthcare."

"More U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country," State Department press secretary Tammy Bruce said. "Venezuelan security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years without respect to due process, in harsh conditions—including torture—frequently based solely on their U.S. nationality or U.S. passport."

The department urged all Americans currently in Venezuela to leave the country immediately, and stated that no embassy or consulate is located in the South American country. Bruce also said Venezuelan authorities do not notify the U.S. government when citizens are detained.

The change comes after Special Envoy Ric Grenell last week secured the release of Air Force veteran Joseph St. Clair, who was wrongfully detained by Venezuela last year. The operation allegedly upset people in the Trump administration's national security circle, but was approved by President Donald Trump. 

A handful of American citizens are still believed to be detained by the Venezuelan government. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.