More Than 18,000 Expatriates Arrested in Saudi Arabia in One Week

Saudi Arabia has arrested more than 18,000 expatriates in a single week for violating residency, labor and border security laws, according to a statement issued by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior.
Citing the ministry, the UAE-based English daily Gulf News reported that a total of 18,200 expatriates were detained between January 15 and January 21 during coordinated security operations carried out across different regions of the country.
Of those arrested, 11,442 were found to have violated residency laws, 3,931 were detained for breaching border security regulations, and 2,827 were arrested for labor law violations. The ministry said the operations were conducted jointly by various security forces and government agencies.
The statement also said that 1,762 people were arrested while attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally across its borders. Among them, 53 percent were Ethiopian nationals, while the rest were Yemeni and citizens of other countries.
In the same period, 46 expatriates were arrested for trying to leave the Kingdom illegally. Authorities also detained 11 Saudi residents for transporting, sheltering or employing individuals who had violated residency and labor regulations.
Currently, legal proceedings are underway against 25,477 expatriates, including 23,443 men and 2,034 women. Of those arrested, 18,685 have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents prior to deportation. Another 3,011 people have received final deportation orders.
So far, 14,451 expatriates have already been repatriated to their home countries, the ministry added.
Saudi lawiyadh also reiterated that anyone found assisting illegal border crossings faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to one million Saudi riyals. The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly warned against violating immigration and labor laws.
Saudi Arabia, home to around 34.8 million people, hosts millions of migrant workers from different countries. Local media regularly report on ongoing campaigns to detain undocumented migrants and enforce residency and labor regulations.