Saudi Arabia: 11,000 violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations apprehended

Ongoing security efforts to enhance the stability of the Kingdom

As part of its ongoing efforts to enforce the rule of law and enhance security and stability throughout the country, Saudi authorities announced the results of joint field campaigns conducted by the Ministry of Interior's security sectors in cooperation with relevant government agencies. These campaigns, which took place between April 30 and May 6, resulted in the apprehension of 11,175 individuals for violating residency, labor, and border security regulations across all regions of the Kingdom.

These campaigns are part of a comprehensive security strategy aimed at addressing the phenomenon of irregular employment and border infiltration, which pose security, economic, and social challenges. The Kingdom is working diligently, particularly within the framework of Vision 2030, to regulate the labor market and create a safe and organized environment that supports sustainable development and protects the rights of all parties, including citizens, legal residents, and employers.

Details of violations and announced figures

Official data revealed the distribution of the violators who were apprehended as follows:

• 6,153 violators of the residency system: These are individuals who reside in the country illegally after the expiry of their visas or official residency permits.
• 3,619 border security violators: This number includes infiltrators who attempted to cross the border in irregular ways.
• 1,403 violators of the labor system: These are those who work for themselves or for someone other than their official sponsors, creating a parallel and unregulated labor market.

Regarding infiltration attempts, 1,411 individuals were apprehended while attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally. Yemeni nationals constituted 36% of them, Ethiopian nationals 62%, with the remainder representing other nationalities. Additionally, 23 individuals were apprehended attempting to leave the country illegally, and 19 were arrested for their involvement in transporting, harboring, employing, and concealing illegal immigrants.

The importance and expected impacts of security campaigns

These campaigns are of paramount importance on several levels. Domestically, they contribute to strengthening national security by reducing potential crimes associated with undocumented residents, and they support the national economy by shrinking the informal economy and regulating the labor market, thus ensuring fair competition and providing job opportunities for citizens and legal residents. Regionally, these measures send a firm message about the Kingdom's control over its borders and underscore its seriousness in combating human smuggling and trafficking networks, which necessitates ongoing cooperation with neighboring countries to address this transnational phenomenon.

Strict measures and deterrent penalties

Currently, a total of 28,678 undocumented migrants are undergoing procedures for implementing the regulations, including 27,157 men and 1,521 women. Of these, 19,441 have been referred to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 3,986 to finalize their travel arrangements, and 11,272 have already been deported.

The Ministry of Interior reiterated that anyone who facilitates the entry of violators of the Kingdom's border security regulations, or provides them with transportation, shelter, or any other form of assistance, will be subject to severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to 15 years and a fine of up to one million riyals. In addition, the means of transportation and accommodation used in the crime will be confiscated, and the offender will be publicly named and shamed. The Ministry urged citizens and residents to report any violations by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom.