The United States has issued an urgent directive ordering all American citizens to leave Venezuela immediately, warning that the security situation has rapidly deteriorated. Armed civilian militias loyal to Nicolás Maduro have reportedly set up roadblocks, stopping vehicles and searching for links to the U.S., raising fears of targeted attacks and detentions.

The warning follows the dramatic capture of Maduro and his wife by U.S. forces, an operation that has sent shockwaves across Latin America and beyond. While President Donald Trump claims the intervention is aimed at restoring stability and prosperity—announcing U.S. control over Venezuelan oil revenues and urging American energy companies to rebuild the country’s oil infrastructure—Caracas has denounced the move as a kidnapping and an act of aggression.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has vowed resistance, calling Maduro’s detention a permanent rupture in U.S.–Venezuela relations. Protests have erupted in Caracas and several global capitals, with critics accusing Washington of imperial overreach and resource exploitation. As unrest spreads and armed groups mobilise inside Venezuela, U.S. officials warn that consular assistance is extremely limited, making immediate departure the safest option for Americans still in the country.