“Leave Immediately”: US Orders Citizens Out of Venezuela as Armed Militias Hunt Americans

The United States government has issued an urgent directive ordering all American citizens currently in Venezuela to depart the country immediately, citing “imminent and extreme safety risks” in the wake of the recent U.S. military intervention. The State Department has elevated Venezuela to a Level 4 Travel Advisory—”Do Not Travel”—warning that the security environment has become lethally unpredictable as regime loyalists and paramilitary groups react to the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
The advisory paints a harrowing picture of the situation on the ground. While limited international commercial flights have resumed, the journey to the airport itself has become a gauntlet of danger. U.S. intelligence and ground reports indicate that armed militias, known locally as colectivos, have mobilized to fill the power vacuum. These paramilitary groups are reportedly setting up ad-hoc roadblocks across major transit routes, specifically searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or any material support for the United States.
“The security situation in Venezuela remains fluid,” the alert states. “There are reports of groups of armed militias… searching vehicles. Remain vigilant and exercise caution when traveling by road.” This specific targeting of Americans marks a dangerous escalation, transforming foreign nationals from bystanders into high-value targets for kidnapping or retribution violence.
The Level 4 advisory details a litany of “severe risks” awaiting those who choose to stay, including wrongful detention, kidnapping for ransom, and even torture within detention facilities. The breakdown of law and order following the U.S. raid has led to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, where Americans may be held as political bargaining chips or accused of being spies and saboteurs.
Furthermore, the alert warns of a collapse in the country’s health infrastructure, meaning that Americans injured in the violence—or those suffering from sudden medical emergencies—will likely not have access to adequate care. The State Department has strongly urged any remaining citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive emergency updates, though the underlying message is clear: the U.S. government may have limited ability to assist those who do not evacuate now.
This warning comes as the U.S. begins the process of refining seized Venezuelan oil and consolidating control, a move that has likely inflamed anti-American sentiment among the remaining hardcore supporters of the fallen regime. For Americans in Caracas and beyond, the window to exit safely appears to be closing rapidly.