The United States State Department issued a stark, “immediate” evacuation order for all American citizens currently in Venezuela on Saturday, as the country grapples with the volatile aftermath of a precision military strike that toppled its leadership just days ago.
The security alert, released by the U.S. Embassy, warns of a “fluid and unpredictable” environment. It specifically highlights growing threats from colectivos—armed pro-regime militias—who are reportedly establishing unauthorized checkpoints to screen for U.S. citizens or those perceived to be supporting the recent American intervention.
The directive comes exactly one week after “Operation Absolute Resolve,” the pre-dawn Jan. 3 mission in which U.S. Special Operations forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their compound in Caracas. The pair are currently in U.S. custody in New York awaiting trial on narcoterrorism charges.
“As international flights have resumed, U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately,” the embassy statement urged. The advisory remains at Level 4, the highest possible warning, citing risks of “wrongful detention, kidnapping, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws” in a nation where diplomatic protections have been severed for years.
In Caracas, the atmosphere remains thick with tension. While many opposition supporters have quietly celebrated the end of the Maduro era, loyalist groups have vowed resistance. Local reports describe rifle-wielding motorcyclists patrolling the capital’s arteries, searching for foreigners or signs of “imperialist” collaboration.
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, now operating under Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, sharply dismissed the American warning. Foreign Minister Yván Gil characterized the security alert as a “fabrication” designed to manufacture a global perception of risk that he claims does not exist on the ground.
“Venezuela is in a state of absolute calm, peace, and stability,” Gil posted on social media, insisting that the government remains the “sole guarantor” of law and order. He maintained that all communication routes and security devices are functioning normally despite the “kidnapping” of the former president.
However, the U.S. State Department’s warning suggests a different reality for those with American passports. With the embassy in Caracas still shuttered and operations running out of Bogota, Colombia, officials admit they have zero capacity to provide emergency services to those who choose to stay.
The situation is further complicated by sporadic power outages and a crumbling health infrastructure, which have worsened since the surgical strikes on military facilities last week. For the remaining Americans in Venezuela, the message from Washington is clear: the window to depart via commercial air is open, but it may not stay that way for long.
