State Department warns US citizens to leave Venezuela

The State Department warned U.S. citizens in Venezuela Saturday to leave immediately

"There are reports of groups of armed militias, known as colectivos, setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of U.S. citizenship or support for the United States. Remain vigilant and exercise caution when traveling by road," the agency said in a statement.

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia issued a more detailed alert reaffirming that the U.S. has a Level Four "do not travel warning" for Venezuela, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to Venezuela.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

The Venezuelan government will “initiate an exploratory diplomatic process” with the U.S. “aimed at re-establishing diplomatic missions in both countries,” the Venezuelan government said in a statement posted on Telegram Friday.

This will be done “with the purpose of addressing the consequences of the aggression and kidnapping” of Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores and with the goal of “addressing a working agenda of mutual interest,” the Venezuelan government said in the statement.

As a part of these efforts, a delegation of diplomatic officials from the U.S. will arrive in Venezuela “to conduct technical and logistical assessments,” and a delegation of Venezuelan diplomats will be sent to the U.S. “to carry out the corresponding tasks,” the Venezuelan government said. A team from the State Department arrived in Caracas on Friday, U.S. officials told ABC News.

“Venezuela will confront this aggression through diplomatic channels,” with the goal of the “restoration of international law and the preservation of peace,” the statement added.

-ABC News' Ismario Rodriguez Perez

A team from the State Department arrived in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday, U.S. officials confirmed to ABC News.

The visit comes less than a week after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and it comes as the Trump administration is considering reopening its embassy in Caracas which has been shuttered since March 2019, when the Maduro government severed diplomatic ties with the first Trump administration.

The team dispatched on Friday consists of U.S. diplomatic and security personnel from the "Venezuela Affairs Unit," which is based in Colombia, according to a U.S. official.

The acting U.S. ambassador to Colombia, John McNamara, is a part of the team there “to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations.”

A senior State Department official said Monday the department was “making preparations to allow for a reopening” of its embassy in Venezuela “should the president make that decision.”

-ABC News' Mariam Khan and Luis Martinez

U.S. forces boarded another Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Caribbean on Friday, according to U.S. Southern Command.

This is the fifth oil tanker to be seized by the United States and the third in the last three days.

"Early this morning, the [U.S. Coast Guard] executed a boarding and seizure of the Motor Tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea. As another 'ghost fleet' tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil, this vessel had departed Venezuela attempting to evade U.S. forces," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X.

"The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality. The Coast Guard will seize sanctioned oil tankers, enforce U.S. and international law, and eliminate these funding streams for illicit activity including narco-terrorism," Noem wrote.

The U.S. Coast Guard is in the lead with support being provided by the U.S. military, sources told ABC News.

-ABC News’ Luis Martinez