American citizens are now advised to ‘exercise increased caution ... due to terrorism.’
The U.S. Department of State has issued new travel advisories for American citizens visiting Italy and Belgium due to the “risk of terrorist violence,” upgrading both countries to a Level 2 warning.
In a
bulletin released on the agency’s website on May 23, the U.S. Embassy said that for Italy, “exercise increased caution ... due to terrorism” and that the risk could include “terrorist attacks and other activity” in the country.
“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning,” the embassy bulletin said, adding that common targets may include public areas such as transportation centers, shopping malls, markets, tourist areas, local government offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, and other sites.
A similar
bulletin was released for Belgium, including much of the same language and places that could become targets for a potential terrorist attack.
If a U.S. citizen visits either Italy or Belgium, the State Department
suggests they enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get messages and alerts from the local embassy and to make it easier for the department to accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency.
The State Department did not explain why both countries were upgraded to “Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution.”
There are four levels of travel advisories: Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions, Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution, Level 3 – Reconsider Travel, and Level 4 – Do Not Travel. The highest level is usually reserved for war zones, countries with authoritarian governments, or areas with excessive criminal activity, such as kidnappings.
Other
countries in Europe that have Level 2 warnings include France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Moldova. Both Ukraine and Russia are listed as Level 4 due to the three-year-long war.
It comes as some countries in Europe have issued stronger advisories on traveling to the United States in recent months, including the UK and Germany.
German officials in March
released a statement that U.S. officials are enforcing stricter immigration rules at the border. German nationals who enter through an electronic travel authorization program or via a U.S. visa cannot be guaranteed entry to the United States each time due to Border Control rules, the German Foreign Office said at the time.
While a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization or a valid U.S. visa “constitutes a right to entry into the USA,” Germany’s Foreign Office
warned in a translated statement that “the final decision regarding entry is made by the U.S. border official.”
A criminal convicted in the United States, overstaying a visa for a short period, giving false information, or other offenses can lead to arrest, detention, and deportation, Germany’s foreign office further warned.
“Any further questions concerning entry into the USA should be clarified with the relevant U.S. diplomatic mission abroad well in advance of departure,” the office said.
In an update issued in March, the UK government
said that citizens going to the United States are advised to “comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry” because border “authorities in the U.S. set and enforce entry rules strictly.”
“You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the U.S. Embassy or a consulate in the UK,” the country’s government said.
The updates came after President Donald Trump earlier this year signed executive orders meant to shore up border security and crack down on illegal immigration,
including declaring an invasion at the U.S.-Mexico border as well as other directives.
