On Saturday, the U.S. government released a new security alert urging U.S. citizens in Venezuela to depart the country immediately. It cited security concerns and the U.S. government’s inability to provide emergency assistance, according to the .

” should leave the country right away,” the embassy stated in a Jan. 10 security alert.

The warning referenced reports of armed groups operating on Venezuela’s roadways. 

“There are accounts of groups of ,’ setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States,” the U.S. Embassy Caracas noted.

The alert comes as international travel options have reopened. “With international flights resuming, U.S. citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately,” the embassy said.

The U.S. Department of State continues to list Venezuela at its . “Venezuela has the highest Travel Advisory level – Level 4: Do Not Travel – due to severe risks to Americans,” the State Department explained.

Those risks include “, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure,” per the State Department.

The embassy advised that Americans in Venezuela should not expect consular assistance. 

“In March 2019, the U.S. Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from U.S. Embassy Caracas and suspended operations,” the embassy said. “The U.S. government still cannot provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela.”

As part of the alert, officials issued a clear warning to Americans. 

“Do not travel to Venezuela,” the embassy stated, adding that “U.S. citizens in Venezuela are recommended to leave the country as soon as they feel it is safe to do so.”

The State Department did not immediately respond to Digital’s request for additional comment.