UK travel warnings: which countries have issued advice since outbreak of riots? – London Evening Standard
3 min readNewsweek has created a map showing the current travel advisories in place for U.S. citizens heading to Latin America and the Caribbean.
The alerts, updated by the U.S. State Department as of April 7, classify destinations from Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”) to Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”), with warnings often tied to issues such as crime, civil unrest or health system limitations.
According to the State Department’s travel advisory portal, countries under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” designation include Haiti and Venezuela. Venezuela, added in late 2024, remains on the list because of serious risks, including wrongful detentions, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest and inadequate health care infrastructure.
Several nations—including Jamaica, Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago—are rated at Level 3, meaning Americans are advised to “Reconsider Travel.”
Why It Matters
America’s relationship with the rest of the world is under the spotlight amid President Donald Trump‘s administration’s mass deportations and sweeping tariffs.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that the U.S. might review the travel advisory status of countries, including Jamaica.
“We need to ensure that warnings reflect not only the current risks but also our strategic relationships,” Rubio said.
A motorcyclist rides past a burning car during a protest against insecurity in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on April 2, 2025.
AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph
What To Know
The U.S. State Department categorizes travel advisories into four levels. Here’s the breakdown for Latin America and the Caribbean, listed by severity:
Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Haiti: Crime and kidnapping
- Venezuela: Wrongful detentions, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest and inadequate health infrastructure
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
- Jamaica: Crime
- Trinidad and Tobago: Crime, terrorism, kidnapping (state of emergency in effect)
- Colombia: Crime and terrorism
- Guyana: Crime
- Guatemala: Crime
- Honduras: Crime
- Nicaragua: Arbitrary law enforcement and limited health care
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
- Bahamas: Crime (updated March 31)
- Dominican Republic: Crime (reissued June 18, 2024)
- Panama: Crime
- El Salvador: Crime
- Belize: Crime
- Cuba: Crime
- Brazil: Crime
- Ecuador: Civil unrest and crime
- Mexico: Crime and kidnapping
- Peru: Crime and terrorism
- Turks and Caicos: Crime (firearm possession risks highlighted)
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Costa Rica
Newsweek has contacted foreign ministries of Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico via email and Haiti via the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the Organization of American States for comment.
What People Are Saying
Public reaction to recent advisories has been mixed. A report from Newsweek highlighted concerns among travelers after a U.S. warning about crime in the Bahamas.
“We feel safe here,” one local resident said. “These warnings are hurting our economy.”
U.S. authorities continue to defend their approach.
“Travel advisories are based on a wide range of credible data points, not anecdotal evidence,” the State Department said in public guidance.
What Happens Next
Travel advisories are updated as conditions on the ground evolve. The U.S. continues to monitor issues like gang violence, health infrastructure and political unrest across the region. Officials say travelers should consult the State Department’s travel website frequently and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for real-time alerts.
With discussions underway in Washington about possibly adjusting certain advisories, including those for key allies in the Caribbean, additional changes may be on the horizon.
