Those arrested included 25,200 violators of the residency laws, about 25,017 violators of the border security regulations, and 3,360 violators of the labor law.

illegal Expats arrested in Saudi Arabia

Most of the expatriates were caught while trying to cross the border and trying to flee the from Saudi Arabia. Few of them were also arrested who assisted transporting violators and were giving them shelter.

The Ministry of Interior (MOI) in Saudi Arabia has warned that anyone who is caught facilitating anyone to enter Saudi Arabia in violation of the border security regulations, or provides him transportation or shelter or any assistance or service in any way, shall be awarded a maximum jail term of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million, and the confiscation of the means of transportation, and the residence used for shelter, in addition to publicizing their names in the local media.

2055270 expatriates have been arrested due to violating kingdoms residency and Labor regulations.

20% of the Illegal Expatriates which is around 500,000 Expats were detained.

Total Illegal Expatriates: 2 Million

• Violating the system of residency: 1.5 Million
• Violating Labor Laws in Saudi: 0.3 Million
• Breaching Border Security System: 0.2 Million

The campaign officials said 14,829 violators were currently being kept in various deportation centres. They consist of 12,730 men and 2,099 women.

The officials said 295,930 violators were referred to their embassies and consulates to issue them with travel documents while 359,593 were completing their travel formalities.

At least 19 ministries and government departments, including the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the Directorate General of Passports, are taking part in the Nation Without Illegal Expats campaign launched in November 2017.

According to the ministry, 953,951 of the expatriates have violated the system of residency, 222,235 labor laws and 103,733 the border security system.

The ministry said 225,181 were immediately punished, 179,796 referred to their embassies and consulates to obtain travel documents, while 226,545 were asked to complete travel bookings. The authorities deported 330,459 violators to their respective home countries.

The ministry said 11,170 violating expatriates were currently being held in detention centers. They consisted of 9,185 men and 1,985 women.

The ministry said a total of 2,186 people, including 417 Saudi nationals, were arrested for providing accommodation and transport to illegal expatriates.

It said 389 of the Saudi detainees were interrogated, punished and released while 28 were still under investigation.

The ministry said some 19,507 foreigners were caught while trying to sneak into the Kingdom across its southern borders. It said 53 percent of the infiltrators were Yemenis, 44 percent Ethiopians and 3 percent people of various other nationalities.

It said as many as 809 expatriates were apprehended while attempting to sneak illegally out of the Kingdom.

Here is the breakdown of Expatriates who are arrested and their violations

Total of 264,245 Violators

54% of IQAMA violators

33% of Labor Law violators

13% of illegal border crossing immigrants

Most of the illegal expatriates who were arrested were from the below regions:

73% – Yemeni Expatriates
25% – Ethipian Expatriates
2% – Other countires Expatriates

Among these, 56,899 expatriates were deported to countires of origin and 92 Saudi citixens were also involved in coverups and smuggling.

The number of expatriates currently detained stands at 14,699, including 12,782 men and 1,917 women.

Immediate penalties were imposed on 39,422 expatriates while 37,506 violators were referred to their respective diplomatic missions for travel documents and 56,899 were deported.

In the first day of arrests itself they caught around 900+ violators in Riyadh and till date they have arrested around 150,000+ illegal expatriates.

This campaign of arrests were starter in November to track down illegal foreigners and 89000 violators of residence and 45000 for labor violators and 24000 of violation of border security systems, totalling all to 150,000 were arrested.

Violators were of all different countries who violated the residence or work permits and were still working and living in KSA.

Security authorities conducted inspections to apprehend illegal workers to curb crimes such as thefts, sorcery, employing illegal workers, brewing liquor and to prevent them being involved in criminal activities.

This campaigns was lanched in March providing a 6 months time for illegal expatriates who are working and living in Saudi Arabia, as well as border infiltrators.

After the campaign ended, Saudi government started to search of illegal expatriaes and in a ajor crackdown in Riyadh polic arresed around 900+ expats who are living illegally in Saudi Arabia in just 1 Day.

Expats arrested were from different countries and Police report that moot of the crimes in the city are comittedd by these illegal people only.

Similar inspections are being carried out in all parts of the Kingdom in concurrence with the respective governorates of the regions. Expatriates are advised to carry their residency certificates, driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates to cooperate with security officers.

Retail outlets, warehouses and gas stations will also be scrutinized to ensure their products and services are according to the Kingdom’s standards and follow the copyright regulations of the country.

The Ministry of Interior will start searching for Expatriates with illegal residence permit, Over stayers, work and border security regulations.

Amnesty Campaign helped most of the illegal expatriates to correct their residential status or leave the country without paying huge penalty and through this Saudi Government wanted to make sure that all the Saudi nationals and xpatriates living in the kingdom must abide by the policies, rules & Regulations in Saudi Arabia.

Even for people who are supporting illegal expats by providing shleter and transporting them will also face huge penalties.

It concluded by calling for cooperation with security authorities, participation, reporting violators or those who support them by calling 999 and cooperating to achieve the objectives of the Nation without Violators campaign.