Saudi Arabia Arrests Over 18,000 Expatriates in One Week

Saudi Arabian authorities have arrested more than 18,000 expatriates in a single week for violating residency, labor, and border security laws, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.
In a statement cited by UAE-based English daily Gulf News, the ministry said that between December 18 and December 24, security forces across the Kingdom detained 19,877 expatriates as part of a nationwide enforcement campaign.
Among those arrested, 11,991 were held for violating residency regulations, 3,808 for breaching border security laws, and 3,078 for labor law violations. The arrests were carried out through joint operations involving various security agencies and government departments.
The ministry also reported that 1,312 individuals were detained while attempting to illegally cross Saudi borders. Of them, 55 percent were Ethiopian nationals, 44 percent Yemeni, and 1 percent from other countries.
Additionally, 46 expatriates were arrested for attempting to leave the country illegally. Authorities also detained 14 residents for providing transportation or shelter to individuals violating residency and labor laws.
Currently, legal proceedings are underway against 28,937 expatriates, including 27,259 men and 1,678 women. Of these, 20,378 detainees have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents prior to deportation. Another 4,465 individuals are in the final stages of deportation, while 13,241 expatriates have already been repatriated.
Saudi law prescribes penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to one million Saudi riyals for those assisting illegal border crossings. The Interior Ministry has repeatedly warned against such offenses.
Saudi Arabia is home to approximately 34.8 million people, including millions of migrant workers from across the world. Local media regularly report on ongoing enforcement campaigns aimed at curbing illegal residency and labor violations.