Security Crisis: No Consular Support Available

Armed Venezuelan militias are actively hunting Americans at roadblocks across the country, prompting an urgent State Department warning for all U.S. citizens to flee immediately. This crisis follows President Trump’s bold military operation that successfully captured narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro and transferred him to the United States for drug trafficking charges. Pro-Maduro colectivos—paramilitary groups—have established roadblocks, systematically searching vehicles for Americans and U.S. supporters in an unprecedented escalation of security risks with zero consular support available.

Story Highlights

Pro-Maduro militias establish roadblocks searching vehicles for U.S. citizens and Trump supporters
State Department issues rare “leave immediately” warning with zero consular support available
A crisis follows a successful Trump military operation capturing Venezuelan dictator Maduro for drug trafficking charges
Armed colectivos target journalists and civilians who celebrated Maduro’s removal

Armed Militias Target Americans at Roadblocks

The U.S. Embassy in Caracas issued an unprecedented security alert on January 10, 2026, instructing all American citizens to leave Venezuela immediately. Reports confirm that pro-government armed militias known as “colectivos” have established roadblocks throughout the country, systematically stopping vehicles and searching for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States. These paramilitary groups, long used by the Maduro regime to intimidate opposition, now pose direct threats to American lives following Trump’s successful military operation.

The U.S. Embassy in Caracas instructs all American citizens to leave Venezuela immediately

The State Department emphasized that no emergency consular services are available to assist Americans, as the U.S. withdrew all diplomatic personnel and suspended embassy operations in March 2019. Venezuela maintains the highest Level-4 “Do Not Travel” advisory due to risks including wrongful detention, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest. The current militia activity represents an escalation beyond typical security concerns, with armed groups actively hunting Americans in retaliation for Maduro’s capture.

⚠️ US urges Americans to immediately leave Venezuela, citing a fluid and unpredictable security situation

▪️ US Embassy in Venezuela warns “against travel to Venezuela”

👉 Venezuela rejects the alert, calling it baseless and aimed at fabricating a perception of risk…

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) January 11, 2026

Trump’s Decisive Action Against Narco-Dictator

On January 3, 2026, President Trump authorized a surgical military operation that successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, transferring them to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges. U.S. airstrikes targeted Venezuelan military facilities, eliminating dozens of officers involved in the “Cartel de los Soles” narco-trafficking network. Trump announced the U.S. will “run” Venezuela temporarily while interim president Delcy Rodríguez navigates between surviving Chavista networks and American demands.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined clear U.S. objectives: facilitating American oil investments, dismantling criminal organizations, and severing Venezuela’s ties with Iran and Hezbollah. The operation drew parallels to the 1989 Panama intervention that removed Manuel Noriega, establishing precedent for using military force in law-enforcement operations against indicted narco-terrorists. This decisive action addresses years of Venezuelan state-sponsored drug trafficking that has fueled America’s opioid crisis and regional instability.

Militia Retaliation and Security Vacuum

Pro-Maduro militias have expanded their targeting beyond Americans to include journalists and civilians who celebrated Maduro’s capture, signaling a broader campaign of intimidation and revenge. These colectivos, originally Chavista community organizations, evolved into paramilitary units responsible for political repression, suppressing protests, and maintaining territorial control. With Maduro removed, these armed groups operate with increased autonomy while interim authorities struggle to maintain control over the fractured security apparatus.

Human Rights Watch warns that the security vacuum could worsen human rights conditions, as colectivos have historically engaged in arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. The International Criminal Court has investigated Venezuela for crimes against humanity since 2014, documenting extensive patterns of torture and political persecution. Americans with visible ties to U.S. organizations, media outlets, or vocal support for Trump’s operation face heightened risks of kidnapping, assault, or wrongful detention by these unaccountable militia forces.

Watch the report: U.S. citizens urged to leave Venezuela ‘immediately’ amid security concerns