Latest news with #wrongfuldetention
Reuters
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
US, Venezuela each warn citizens against travel to other country
WASHINGTON/CARACAS, May 27 (Reuters) - The United States and Venezuela on Tuesday each warned their respective citizens against traveling to the other country, with the U.S. citing the risk of wrongful detention in the South American nation and Venezuela saying its citizens are victims of systematic rights abuses in the U.S. "U.S. citizens in Venezuela face a significant and growing risk of wrongful detention," the State Department said in a statement. The department has assigned Venezuela, where there is no U.S. Embassy or consulate, its highest travel alert - Level 4: Do Not Travel. It cited risks including torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, unfair law enforcement practices, violent crime, civil unrest and inadequate healthcare. The U.S. has said there are Americans being unfairly held in Venezuela. One man was freed this month, while others were released in January. Venezuela, meanwhile, issued a travel alert for the U.S. and urged its citizens living there to leave. "Venezuelans in the United States are victims of a systematic pattern of abuses of their human rights, being arbitrarily detained, separated from their families and transported to concentration camps in third countries," Venezuela's foreign minister Yvan Gil said on Telegram. Venezuela has decried President Donald Trump's use of a 1798 law to deport hundreds of migrants from the U.S. to El Salvador's most notorious prison. The U.S. Supreme Court this month kept in place its block on Trump's use of the law, faulting his administration for seeking to remove migrants without adequate legal process.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
U.S. warns Americans not to travel to Venezuela due to risks of torture, kidnapping
The U.S. State Department is warning citizens not to travel to Venezuela, warning of "severe risks" including wrongful detention, kidnapping and torture. The State Department said that it does not have an operating embassy or consulate in the South American country, and cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens there. All U.S. citizens currently in Venezuela should leave immediately, the State Department said. "U.S. citizens are at extreme risk of detention when entering Venezuela at any location. They may be unjustly charged with terrorism or other serious crimes and detained for long periods," the State Department said in a news release announcing the warning. "U.S. citizens have been detained upon arrival at land borders, airports, and maritime ports of entry. There is no safe way for Americans to travel to Venezuela." More U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country, the department said. In some cases, detentions have happened when people accidentally cross into Venezuela from neighboring countries, where borders may not be clearly marked. Detained Americans may also be unjustly charged with serious crimes, including terrorism, the State Department said. The Venezuelan government does not report detentions to the U.S. government, making it impossible for the U.S. to visit those citizens or intervene. U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela also cannot contact family members or private attorneys, the State Department said. Other potential concerns in Venezuela include the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, civil unrest and poor health infrastructure, the State Department said. The map below shows State Department travel advisories by country. Hover over a country to see what level advisory it has and search for a specific nation in the table. Travel advisories by country
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Venezuela frees US Air Force veteran considered wrongfully detained, his family says
A United States Air Force veteran detained for several months in Venezuela was released Tuesday, according to a family statement. Joseph St. Clair, who the U.S. government has said was wrongfully detained in the South American country, was handed over to U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell. The family said St. Clair, who had served four tours in Afghanistan, was detained in November. 'This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it, but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,' St. Clair's parents, Scott and Patti, said in a statement. Scott St. Clair earlier this month told The Associated Press his son, a language specialist, had traveled to South America to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Six other Americans detained in Venezuela in the months after the country's July presidential poll were freed by the government of President Nicolás Maduro after he met Grenell in February. Grenell, during the meeting in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, urged Maduro to take back deported migrants who have committed crimes in the U.S. Hundreds of Venezuelans have since been deported to their home country.
CNN
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
American veteran released from imprisonment in Venezuela
An American Air Force veteran has been released from imprisonment in Venezuela, a US official and the man's family said in a statement Tuesday. Joseph St. Clair was released to US special envoy Richard Grenell, the family statement said. St. Clair had been detained since November and was one of nine Americans declared wrongfully detained in Venezuela. 'This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it — but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,' Scott and Patti St. Clair said. The details around Joseph St. Clair's release were not immediately clear. The families of Americans wrongfully detained in Venezuela met virtually with senior national security official Seb Gorka earlier this month, participants and a White House official told CNN. In late April, Patti St. Clair had expressed concern for her son's well-being, noting that he suffers from 'severe PTSD.' 'Can you imagine his fear? Can you imagine the isolation that he must be feeling battling his unseen scars in a foreign prison, unsure if help is even coming?' she said at a 'Bring Our Families Home' event in Washington, DC She had called on President Donald Trump and Congress to 'act now to save Joe and his fellow captives.'
CNN
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
American veteran released from imprisonment in Venezuela
An American Air Force veteran has been released from imprisonment in Venezuela, a US official and the man's family said in a statement Tuesday. Joseph St. Clair was released to US special envoy Richard Grenell, the family statement said. St. Clair had been detained since November and was one of nine Americans declared wrongfully detained in Venezuela. 'This news came suddenly, and we are still processing it — but we are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,' Scott and Patti St. Clair said. The details around Joseph St. Clair's release were not immediately clear. The families of Americans wrongfully detained in Venezuela met virtually with senior national security official Seb Gorka earlier this month, participants and a White House official told CNN. In late April, Patti St. Clair had expressed concern for her son's well-being, noting that he suffers from 'severe PTSD.' 'Can you imagine his fear? Can you imagine the isolation that he must be feeling battling his unseen scars in a foreign prison, unsure if help is even coming?' she said at a 'Bring Our Families Home' event in Washington, DC She had called on President Donald Trump and Congress to 'act now to save Joe and his fellow captives.'
