Uruguay, Venezuela issue travel warning against US

By Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) - South American countries Uruguay and Venezuela have warned their citizens against travel to a number of U.S. cities following mass shootings that killed over 30 people in Texas and Ohio over the weekend.

About 13 hours after the shooting tragedy unfolded in El Paso, Texas, killing 22, another rocked Dayton, Ohio, when a body armor-clad gunman opened fire in a popular nightlife area killing 9.

Venezuelan Foreign Ministry in a statement on Monday referred to the "growing acts of violence, racial discrimination and hatred against migrant populations” in the U.S. and blamed the "elite who hold political power in Washington".

"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,'' the statement said.

Uruguayan officials have used similar language in their travel warning and asked citizens to take precautions and avoid large crowds especially in metropolitan cities.

The U.S. last week heightened its travel advisory for Uruguay, warning its citizens to "exercise increased caution".

This January, it also issued the highest travel warning for Venezuela, advising travelers to avoid trips to the country "due to crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, and arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens".

The U.S. was shaken by two mass shootings last weekend that claimed over 30 lives and injured dozens.

President Trump has pursued a hardline approach on immigration, both legal and illegal, since coming to the office. According to British daily The Independent, the U.S. has experienced four of the most deadly shootings in the country’s history since he took office in 2017.