U.S. Warns Americans Not To Travel To Venezuela

Sanjana Karanth
Opposition National Assembly President Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president of Venezuela, speaks with the media upon his arrival to National Assembly in Caracas on Tuesday. (Photo: Fernando Llano/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Opposition National Assembly President Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president of Venezuela, speaks with the media upon his arrival to National Assembly in Caracas on Tuesday. (Photo: Fernando Llano/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The U.S. State Department issued a “do not travel” advisory Tuesday to Americans traveling to Venezuela amid rising tensions.

“Do not travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, and arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens,” said the State Department’s travel advisory, which was issued as protests continue to sweep Caracas. “Venezuelan authorities may not notify the U.S. Embassy of the detention of a U.S. citizen, and consular access to detainees may be denied or severely delayed.”

The travel advisory came just days after Trump administration officials maintained that military intervention is still on the table in their attempts to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power. In a Monday press briefing, national security adviser John Bolton detailed new sanctions against Venezuela, including against its state-owned oil company.

The advisory also came on the same day Maduro’s government announced an investigation into National Assembly Leader Juan Guaido, whom President Donald Trump backed just hours after the opposition leader declared himself interim president on Jan. 23. Venezuela’s top prosecutor asked the country’s Supreme Court to freeze Guaido’s assets and bar him from traveling.

The National Assembly represents a multi-party opposition to Maduro, who won a disputed election last year that the opposition members and several democratic countries have called fraudulent. Maduro’s time in office has included authoritarian crackdowns on political enemies and an economic crisis driven partly by the worldwide collapse of oil prices.

With the increased penalties on Venezuela, the Trump administration aims to force Maduro to cede the presidency as he loses support from the armed forces, whose continued loyalty to him has been crucial to his retaining power.

Foreign policy experts have warned that sending the U.S. military to Venezuela could bring more violence in a country already facing humanitarian crises.

The U.S. has a history of using military and intelligence services to attempt to topple Latin American leaders it disagrees with. The U.S was closely linked to a failed coup in Venezuela against socialist President Hugo Chavez in 2002. Maduro replaced Chavez after he died in 2013.

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Demonstrations of solidarity drew hundreds to a Los Angeles, California rally organized online by opposition leaders in Venezuela.
Demonstrations of solidarity drew hundreds to a Los Angeles, California rally organized online by opposition leaders in Venezuela.
Marta and Andrea Aleman, mother and daughter, demonstrate along Veteran Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Maria relocated to to United States 16 years ago.
Marta and Andrea Aleman, mother and daughter, demonstrate along Veteran Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Maria relocated to to United States 16 years ago.
Demonstrators line Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California in front of the Federal Building.
Demonstrators line Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California in front of the Federal Building.
Demonstrators with handmade signs peacefully rally in Los Angeles, California.
Demonstrators with handmade signs peacefully rally in Los Angeles, California.
Silvia Souto and Octmary Domenech, both Venezuelans that relocated to the United States, leverage the Freedom of Expression afforded in the U.S.
Silvia Souto and Octmary Domenech, both Venezuelans that relocated to the United States, leverage the Freedom of Expression afforded in the U.S.
Peace signs were a common gesture of demonstrators at the Los Angeles, California rally.
Peace signs were a common gesture of demonstrators at the Los Angeles, California rally.
Demonstrators indicate rallies and protests will not cease until they achieve the change Venezuelan opposition members seek.
Demonstrators indicate rallies and protests will not cease until they achieve the change Venezuelan opposition members seek.
Irina (center) relocated to the United States from Venezuela 4 years ago.
Irina (center) relocated to the United States from Venezuela 4 years ago.
A sign held above a crowd of demonstrators delivers a poignant message.
A sign held above a crowd of demonstrators delivers a poignant message.
One of several dogs present at the Los Angeles, California demonstration was outfitted in the Venezuelan flag.
One of several dogs present at the Los Angeles, California demonstration was outfitted in the Venezuelan flag.
Diana Mendoza and Dan Devries demonstrate on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue. Diana moved to the United States 10 years ago to study. She and Dan have visited her family Venezuela three times in the past 4 years.
Diana Mendoza and Dan Devries demonstrate on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue. Diana moved to the United States 10 years ago to study. She and Dan have visited her family Venezuela three times in the past 4 years.
Mylene Feo of Whittier participates in the demonstration along Veteran Avenue in Los Angeles, California.
Mylene Feo of Whittier participates in the demonstration along Veteran Avenue in Los Angeles, California.
Hundreds swarm in front of the Federal building on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.
Hundreds swarm in front of the Federal building on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.
This couple is one of the many Cuban supports present at the Los Angeles demonstration.
This couple is one of the many Cuban supports present at the Los Angeles demonstration.
Celex Uzcategui, Ricardo Buenrostro, and Maurico Calderon stand on the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Veteran Ave. Celex and Mauricio are from Venezuela. Ricardo is from Mexico.
Celex Uzcategui, Ricardo Buenrostro, and Maurico Calderon stand on the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Veteran Ave. Celex and Mauricio are from Venezuela. Ricardo is from Mexico.
Dr. Patricia DeMarco moved to the United States 7 years ago.
Dr. Patricia DeMarco moved to the United States 7 years ago.
Genesis Carmona, Venezuela's 2013 Miss Turismo, was fatally shot in the head during the recent protests in Venezuela.
Genesis Carmona, Venezuela's 2013 Miss Turismo, was fatally shot in the head during the recent protests in Venezuela.
Demonstrators cross streets, rotating corner to corner, of Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue in Los Angeles, California.
Demonstrators cross streets, rotating corner to corner, of Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue in Los Angeles, California.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.