Saudi law enforcement authorities have arrested more than 21,000 illegal migrants in various parts of the country through nationwide operations. Among them, over 8,700 individuals have already been deported to their home countries. The Saudi Ministry of Interior confirmed this in a statement, reporting that these arrests took place over the past week as part of a security crackdown.
According to Gulf News, an English daily in the UAE, Saudi authorities detained 21,477 expatriates for violating residency, labor, and border security laws.
Between January 30 and February 5, the security forces carried out operations across different regions, leading to these arrests. The crackdown was part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to maintain law and order.
The statement detailed that among those arrested:
13,638 violated residency laws,
4,663 breached border security regulations, and
3,176 violated labor laws.
Additionally, 1,316 individuals were caught attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally, with most of them being Ethiopian and Yemeni nationals. Of those arrested, 58% were Ethiopian, 40% were Yemeni, and the remaining 2% were from other countries. Authorities also apprehended 77 expatriates for attempting to leave Saudi Arabia unlawfully.
The Ministry of Interior further stated that 13 individuals residing in Saudi Arabia were arrested for providing shelter and transportation to illegal immigrants.
Before deportation, 28,661 detained individuals were referred to their respective diplomatic missions to process necessary travel documents. Meanwhile, 2,919 individuals are currently in the process of being repatriated.
At present, legal actions are underway against 37,120 foreign nationals, including 33,547 men and 3,573 women. The ministry emphasized that deportation procedures for these individuals are in progress.
Saudi authorities have strict penalties for those facilitating illegal entry into the country, including up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to 1 million Saudi Riyals. The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly issued warnings regarding these violations.
Saudi Arabia, home to approximately 34.8 million people, hosts millions of migrant workers from various countries. Local media frequently report on continuous security operations and the crackdown on illegal migrants within the kingdom.