Both Venezuela and Uruguay have recently warned their citizens against traveling to some U.S. cities, including Detroit and Cleveland, citing recent shootings as a safety concern.
The Venezuelan government cited the shootings in El Paso and Dayton as a direct cause for concern. The government warned against traveling to Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Baltimore, Maryland; St. Louis, Missouri; Oakland, California; Memphis, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; Stockton, California and Buffalo, New York. The statement cited a 2019 Forbes article.
The statement from Uruguay specifically listed Detroit, Baltimore, and Albuquerque, New Mexico as potentially dangerous places to travel.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro retweeted a statement from a Venezuelan politician warning Venezuelans to “be extra careful or to postpone their travel, given the recent proliferation of violent acts and hate crimes.” The retweet and statement comes from an account that translates Maduro’s official account.
RT @jaarreaza: COMMUNIQUÉ | We warn Venezuelans, living in or aiming to travel to the U.S., to be extra careful or to postpone their travel, given the recent proliferation of violent acts and hate crimes. pic.twitter.com/oxiIUGF9qY
— Nicolás Maduro (@maduro_en) August 5, 2019
The Venezuelan government’s statement also named the “inexcusable, indiscriminate possession of firearms” as a security concern in the U.S. Similar sentiments were echoed by the statement from Uruguay.
Venezuela had the world’s highest homicide rate at 81.4 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to a report by the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence. The organization noted the number was down from 89 in 2017 and 92 in 2016.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday that “blocks all property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela that are within the jurisdiction of the United States,” according to a statement from the press secretary. The order also imposes sanctions on those who support Maduro and restricts entry into the U.S. by “sanctioned persons.”
The press release also included a denouncement of Maduro’s leadership.
“The Maduro dictatorship must end for Venezuela to have a stable, democratic, and prosperous future — free from the horrors of socialism that have ravaged this once great country,” the release said. “The United States will use every appropriate tool to end Maduro’s hold on Venezuela, support the Venezuelan people’s access to humanitarian assistance, and ensure a democratic transition in Venezuela.”
The U.S. government also recently spoke out against Uruguay. The U.S. Department of State raised the travel advisory against Uruguay to “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” on August 2. The advisory warns against displaying wealth and urges travelers to be aware of surroundings.
“Violent crimes, such as homicides, armed robberies, carjacking and thefts have increased throughout the country and occur in urban areas frequented by U.S. government personnel, day and night,” the advisory reads.
Travel warnings have been issued by foreign countries in the past, including France, New Zealand and Germany, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Read the statements from Uruguay and Venezuela here and here.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with Battleground State News and The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
Photo “Run-Down Building” by urbanfeel. CC BY-ND 2.0.
