Saudi Arabia arrests over 14,000 illegal residents in one week
Quick Look
- Saudi security authorities arrested 14,165 illegal residents between August 27 and September 2, including 7,121 residency violators, 3,636 border security violators, and 3,408 labor law violators.
- Of those, 12,363 were deported, while others were referred to diplomatic missions or faced penalties for facilitating illegal entry.
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Why It Matters
Saudi Arabia enforces strict residency, border, and labor laws governing expatriates. The Ministry of Interior regularly conducts joint inspections to address violations, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, deportation, and confiscation of assets used to facilitate illegal entry.
RIYADH — Saudi security authorities arrested a total of 14,165 illegal residents in a week. The arrests were made in the joint inspections, carried out by the security forces in collaboration with the relevant government agencies, during the period between August 27 and September 2, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday.
Those who were arrested include 7,121 violators of the Residency Law, 3,636 violators of the Border Security Law, and 3,408 violators of the Labor Law. A total of 12,363 illegal residents were deported while 18,937 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents and 3,240 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations.
The total number of people who were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom accounted for 1,315, of whom 41 percent were Yemeni nationals, 58 percent Ethiopian nationals, and one percent belonged to other nationalities. A total of 42 people were arrested while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
Some 21 people involved in giving transportation, shelter, and employment for violators were also arrested. A total of 29,773 expatriates, including 27,845 men and 1,928 women, are currently undergoing procedures to enforce legal measures for violations.
The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person, who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them on its territory, provides them with shelter or any other assistance or service, will be penalized with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million, and that the vehicles used for transportation or houses used for giving shelter will be confiscated.
The ministry urged the public to report any cases of violation by calling the number 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and the numbers 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.
Open Questions
- What is the duration of legal procedures for the 29,773 expatriates currently undergoing enforcement?
- Are there plans to increase penalties or enforcement frequency following this wave of arrests?
- How many of the arrested individuals had prior violations?
- What support is provided to deported individuals upon return to their home countries?
