US urges its citizens to flee Venezuela amid reports of paramilitaries

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Tom PhillipsJanuary 11, 2026 at 12:53 AM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

The United States State Department has urged American citizens to immediately leave Venezuela due to reports of armed pro-government militias, known as colectivos, searching for U.S. citizens and supporters. This alert follows the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. and subsequent unrest, including colectivos establishing roadblocks and checkpoints. While Maduro's successor has called for improved relations with the U.S., the State Department warns of a volatile situation with colectivos patrolling Caracas and increased security measures on major roads. The U.S. is advising its citizens to exercise extreme caution and take advantage of available international flights to depart the country. State Department officials visited Caracas on Friday to prepare for the potential reopening of the U.S. embassy.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

New York Times 30% Washington 30% Delcy Rodríguez 40% Donald Trump 60% colectivos ×260% Caracas ×470% State Department ×370% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×480% United States ×690% Venezuela ×690%

Keywords

venezuela 100% us citizens 90% paramilitaries 80% colectivos 70% security alert 70% nicolás maduro 70% political unrest 60% us relations 50% caracas 50%