Saudi law enforcement authorities have arrested more than 7,500 expatriates within a week for violating residency, labor, and border security laws.

Citing a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Interior on Sunday (June 7), United Arab Emirates-based English daily Gulf News reported that 7,760 expatriates were detained during nationwide security crackdowns conducted between May 28 and June 3. Among them, 4,690 individuals have already been deported to their respective home countries.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the detainees include 4,060 individuals arrested for violating residency laws, 2,574 for border security violations, and 1,126 for labor law infractions. The arrests were executed through joint operations involving various national security forces and government agencies.

Border Violations and Demographics
The ministry's statement further revealed that 1,184 individuals were apprehended while attempting to cross the border into Saudi Arabia illegally. Of those detained during infiltration attempts, 70% were Ethiopian nationals, 28% were Yemeni, and the remaining 2% belonged to other nationalities.

Additionally, 25 expatriates were caught attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally. Authorities also arrested 16 residents for providing transportation and shelter to violators of residency and employment regulations.

This follows an earlier crackdown prior to May 17, which resulted in the deportation of 11,272 expatriates and the arrest of another 9,576 individuals.

Legal Proceedings and Deportations
The ministry stated that during the week in question, 4,690 undocumented expatriates were repatriated.

Furthermore, 14,495 violators were referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain necessary travel documents, while 850 others were directed to complete their final travel arrangements prior to deportation.

According to the report, a total of 21,774 expatriates—including 20,455 men and 1,319 women—are currently undergoing legal proceedings for violating residency, labor, and border security laws.

Strict Penalties: The Saudi Ministry of Interior has repeatedly warned that anyone caught facilitating illegal entry into the Kingdom faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to 1 million Saudi Riyals (SAR).

Saudi Arabia, a desert nation with a current population of approximately 34.8 million, hosts millions of migrant workers from around the globe.

Local Saudi media regularly report on the government's continuous and relentless crackdown on lawbreakers and undocumented expatriates.
Source: Gulf News