Saudi Arabia arrests more than 14,000 residency, labor, border law violators in one week

Saudi Arabia's intensified crackdown on illegal immigration resulted in the arrest of 14,154 individuals violating residency, labor, and border security laws during the week of July 23 to July 29. The Ministry of Interior reported that these nationwide joint inspection campaigns targeted various infractions, with 7,103 arrests made for residency violations, 3,654 for labor law breaches, and 3,397 for border security violations.

The campaigns also apprehended 1,418 people attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally, predominantly Yemeni and Ethiopian nationals. Additionally, 23 individuals were caught trying to leave the country unlawfully, and 17 were detained for aiding or sheltering violators. These efforts underscore the Kingdom's commitment to enforcing its immigration and labor regulations.

Currently, 30,679 individuals are undergoing legal procedures, with many being referred to their diplomatic missions for travel documents or facing deportation. The Ministry of Interior issued a stern warning against facilitating illegal entry or assisting violators, stating that offenders face up to 15 years in prison, substantial fines, vehicle confiscation, and public shaming. The ministry urged the public to report any violations through designated emergency numbers.