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The Ministry of Interior announced that 12,363 illegal residents were deported following a week of joint inspection campaigns. The operations from July 23 to July 29 resulted in 14,154 arrests for violations of residency, labour and border security laws, the ministry said. Residency breaches accounted for 7,103 of the arrests while labour law violations totalled 3,397 and border security offences numbered 3,654.
In addition the ministry reported that 1,418 individuals were detained while attempting illegal entry into the Kingdom with 23 arrested for unlawful exit attempts. A further 17 people were apprehended for transporting, sheltering or employing violators according to the ministry. The ministry said 30,679 people remain subject to legal procedures including 17,903 referred to diplomatic missions for travel documents and 5,424 completing travel arrangements.
The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone facilitating the illegal entry transportation or concealment of violators faces up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to SR1 million. Confiscation of vehicles and property used in the offence along with public naming are also part of the penalties the ministry stated. Such announcements form part of the regular updates on the long-running enforcement campaign.
Gulf News reported that a week earlier the ministry had deported 13,251 individuals in a comparable campaign. These weekly figures have remained in the range of 8,000 to 15,000 deportations throughout the year according to repeated ministry statements covered by the publication. The sustained operations involve coordination among security forces and multiple government agencies across the Kingdom.
Ministry of Interior data cited by Gulf News has shown that Ethiopian and Yemeni nationals make up the overwhelming majority of those intercepted at the borders. In one recent week Ethiopians accounted for 58 per cent of illegal entry attempts while Yemenis represented 41 per cent. The ministry continues to prioritise border security as part of the wider enforcement drive.
The campaigns have been a consistent feature of Saudi immigration policy with the ministry releasing weekly tallies of actions taken. Thousands of expatriates are processed through diplomatic channels prior to deportation under these procedures the ministry has detailed. Legal measures remain in force for those currently undergoing review according to the latest statement.
