On December 13, the US Department of State issued a Level 3 Travel Advice for Nicaraguaadvising travelers to reconsider entering the country due to arbitrary enforcement of laws, risk of unlawful detention and limited availability of healthcare.
The Nicaraguan government is known to target individuals and organizations, including NGO workers, academics, business representatives, civil society leaders, religious and charity workers, journalists and others, for political purposes.
Over the past year, U.S. citizens have faced arbitrary entry and exit bans, deportations, arrests, revocations of Nicaraguan citizenship, and other actions.
The government can deny entry or re-entry without providing a basis, search personal devices for anti-government content, restrict photography, confiscate personal devices, and confiscate property without warning or due process.
There has been a risk of unlawful detention of US citizens since 2018more than 5,300 social organizations, including religious organizations, have been closed by the government.
Travelers are advised to use extra caution due to crime and read the country information page for more information about traveling to Nicaragua.