Armed Venezuelan militias are actively targeting and hunting Americans at roadblocks, a crisis so severe that the U.S. government has issued an unprecedented “leave immediately” warning. With the U.S. having no functioning embassy in the country since 2019, stranded citizens are left without consular protection or emergency rescue capabilities as the political standoff intensifies following the U.S. capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Story Snapshot
- The State Department issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” alert on January 10, 2026, telling Americans to evacuate Venezuela immediately
- Pro-government armed militias called “colectivos” are setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for U.S. citizens and Trump supporters
- Crisis follows Trump administration’s capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026
- U.S. has no functioning embassy in Venezuela since 2019, leaving Americans with zero consular protection or emergency rescue capabilities
Trump Administration Issues Urgent Evacuation Warning
The State Department escalated its Venezuela travel advisory on January 10, 2026, explicitly warning U.S. citizens to “depart immediately” due to reports of armed pro-government militias targeting Americans. The alert reinforces Venezuela’s Level 4 “Do Not Travel” status, citing extreme security risks including wrongful detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, and arbitrary law enforcement. This represents the most serious travel warning possible, typically reserved for active war zones and failed states.
The warning comes just one week after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and transported him out of the country, triggering a political crisis that has emboldened anti-American forces. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim leader, with the government denouncing Maduro’s removal as “kidnapping” and “aggression” by the United States.
Armed Militias Hunt Americans at Roadblocks
Intelligence reports describe pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos” establishing roadblocks throughout Venezuela and systematically searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States. These paramilitary organizations have long served as enforcement arms of the Bolivarian regime, intimidating opposition supporters and suppressing dissent through violence and coercion.
The colectivos represent a particular threat because they operate with state tolerance while maintaining plausible deniability for the Venezuelan government. Their decentralized structure and ideological loyalty to the socialist revolution make them unpredictable and dangerous, especially for Americans who could be viewed as valuable hostages or bargaining chips in the current political standoff.
Americans Stranded Without Embassy Protection
The most alarming aspect of the crisis is the U.S. government’s admission that it “continues to be unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.” America withdrew all diplomatic personnel from Caracas in March 2019 following escalating tensions with the Maduro regime, leaving the embassy shuttered for nearly seven years.
This means Americans facing threats from armed militias have no U.S. embassy to contact, no marine security guards to protect them, and no consular officials to negotiate their release if detained. The State Department can only advise citizens to use commercial flights while they remain available, essentially abandoning Americans to fend for themselves in a hostile environment where anti-U.S. sentiment is running high.
Watch the report: U.S. citizens urged to leave Venezuela ‘immediately’ amid security concerns
Sources:
Security Alert Venezuela: January 10, 2026: Do Not Travel to Venezuela; Depart Immediately
US warns Americans to leave Venezuela immediately as armed militias set up roadblocks
Venezuela live updates: State Department warns US citizens to leave