RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 22,716 illegal residents during inspection raids conducted between September 12 and 18, 2024.
These raids, part of joint field security campaigns, targeted violators of the Kingdom’s Residency, Border Security, and Labor Laws. Among those arrested, 14,446 were found in breach of Residency Law, 4,780 violated Border Security Law, and 3,490 were Labor Law violators.
Additionally, authorities apprehended 1,513 individuals attempting to illegally cross the border into the Kingdom, with the majority being Yemeni (46%) and Ethiopian (53%) nationals. Thirty-eight people were arrested trying to leave the Kingdom illegally, and ten individuals were detained for facilitating illegal activities, such as transporting or sheltering violators.
Currently, 15,752 expatriates—14,167 men and 1,585 women—are undergoing legal procedures. Of these, 6,765 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 12,101 individuals have already been deported.
The Ministry of Interior reiterated its strict penalties for anyone aiding illegal residents, which include up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to SR1 million, and the confiscation of vehicles or homes used in such activities. The public has been urged to report violations by calling designated hotline numbers.
