Commonground
Senior Moderator
January 10, 2026
Armed militias known as colectivos reportedly setting up roadblocks to search vehicles for evidence of US citizenship
The U.S. government issued a new security alert Saturday urging Americans in Venezuela to leave the country immediately, citing security concerns and the U.S. government’s inability to provide emergency assistance, according to the U.S. Embassy Caracas.
"U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately," the embassy said in a Jan. 10 security alert.
The warning cited reports of armed groups operating on Venezuelan roads.
"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," the U.S. Embassy Caracas said.
The alert comes as international travel options have reopened. "As international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately," the embassy said.
The U.S. Department of State continues to list Venezuela at its highest travel warning level. "Venezuela has the highest Travel Advisory level – Level 4: Do Not Travel – due to severe risks to Americans," the State Department said.
Those risks include "wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure," according to the State Department.
The embassy said Americans in Venezuela should not expect consular assistance.
"Do not travel to Venezuela," the embassy said, adding that "U.S. citizens in Venezuela are advised to leave Venezuela as soon as they feel it is safe to do so."
...https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-wa...-immediately-armed-militias-set-up-roadblocks
Armed militias known as colectivos reportedly setting up roadblocks to search vehicles for evidence of US citizenship
The U.S. government issued a new security alert Saturday urging Americans in Venezuela to leave the country immediately, citing security concerns and the U.S. government’s inability to provide emergency assistance, according to the U.S. Embassy Caracas.
"U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately," the embassy said in a Jan. 10 security alert.
The warning cited reports of armed groups operating on Venezuelan roads.
"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," the U.S. Embassy Caracas said.
The alert comes as international travel options have reopened. "As international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately," the embassy said.
The U.S. Department of State continues to list Venezuela at its highest travel warning level. "Venezuela has the highest Travel Advisory level – Level 4: Do Not Travel – due to severe risks to Americans," the State Department said.
Those risks include "wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure," according to the State Department.
The embassy said Americans in Venezuela should not expect consular assistance.
"Do not travel to Venezuela," the embassy said, adding that "U.S. citizens in Venezuela are advised to leave Venezuela as soon as they feel it is safe to do so."
...https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-wa...-immediately-armed-militias-set-up-roadblocks