"Casa Amarilla" in Caracas, the headquarters of Venezuela's foreign office. Photo: File photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry has issued a travel alert urging citizens to reconsider travel to the United States, citing heightened risks of arbitrary detention, deportation, and systemic discrimination. The advisory follows the recent controversial deportation of over 200 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, based on unproven allegations linking them to the Aragua Train criminal gang.
The irregular deportation operation was authorized under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The last time this act was invoked was during World War II, when it was used to send descendants of Japanese migrants to concentration camps on US soil.
In a statement released on Monday, March 17, the ministry condemned escalating immigration enforcement measures, including the detention and deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador despite their lack of legal ties or protections in the Central American nation. The alert also highlighted rising violent crime and policies restricting fundamental rights, urging Venezuelans in the US to exercise extreme caution.
Clash of powers
On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to clarify why two deportation flights proceeded despite a court order temporarily blocking such removals under the Alien Enemies Act, Reuters reported.
US District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., had halted deportations for two weeks on Saturday after President Donald Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The law—originally designed to address wartime threats—was controversially cited to declare Venezuelan migrants, allegedly linked to the Aragua Train criminal gang without evidence, as participants in “irregular warfare” against the US.
Judge Boasberg demanded the Justice Department explain why flights carrying deportees departed for El Salvador after his ruling. The move has intensified scrutiny over whether the Trump administration is testing constitutional limits on executive branch power, risking a clash with the judiciary.
The dispute escalated further when Trump publicly called for Boasberg’s impeachment on Tuesday—a remark swiftly condemned by US Chief Justice John Roberts.
Below is the full unofficial translation of the statement:
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, through its Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs, warns Venezuelan citizens planning to travel to the United States about the risks and conditions they may face in that country.
In recent months, there has been an increase in arbitrary immigration control measures and harassment policies against Venezuelans. Cases of arbitrary detentions, deportations without justification, confiscation of property and documents, as well as discriminatory and humiliating treatment by US authorities have been documented. These actions include imprisonment without due process and kidnapping in third-country prisons, clearly violating human rights.
Venezuelans Dispute US-El Salvador Deportations, Insist Detainees Have No Ties to Aragua Train Gang
Furthermore, those residing in or traveling through the United States are advised to exercise extreme caution due to the increase in violent incidents and the implementation of regulations that restrict fundamental rights, which could compromise their safety and well-being.
The Bolivarian government reaffirms its commitment to the protection of Venezuelan migrants and will continue to denounce any violation of their rights. We call on the international community to be vigilant against these practices that violate human dignity and the principles of international law.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
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