19,000 violators of residency, labor and border security regulations were apprehended in Saudi Arabia

Saudi security forces continue their intensive efforts to enhance security and regulate the labor market. Joint field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations continued throughout the Kingdom. These intensive campaigns, conducted between January 22 and 28, resulted in the arrest of thousands of violators, reflecting the vigilance of security personnel and the state's resolve in enforcing regulations.

Details of field seizures

Official statistics released by the Ministry of Interior show that a total of 19,975 violators were apprehended during joint security field campaigns across all regions of the Kingdom. These figures are distributed as follows:

• Residency system: (12,906) violators were apprehended, which is the largest number, indicating that the campaigns focused on correcting the status of residents.
• Border security system: The number of violators apprehended reached (3918) people.
• Labor System: (3151) violations of the labor system were detected and recorded.

Border security and infiltration attempts

Regarding border security, a cornerstone of the Kingdom's stability, a total of 1,716 individuals were apprehended while attempting to cross into the Kingdom. Statistics revealed the nationalities of the infiltrators: Yemenis constituted 39%, Ethiopians 60%, and the remaining 1% were distributed among other nationalities. Conversely, 48 individuals were apprehended for attempting to cross the border out of the Kingdom illegally.

General context and importance of campaigns

These ongoing campaigns are an extension of the Kingdom's comprehensive strategy to combat violations that negatively impact the national economy and social security. Through the "A Nation Without Violators" campaign and other security initiatives, Saudi Arabia seeks to eliminate the phenomenon of undocumented workers and residency violators, thereby reducing the informal economy, guaranteeing the rights of legal workers, and providing a safe and competitive work environment in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

Legal procedures and deportation

The relevant authorities clarified that the total number of individuals currently subject to enforcement procedures is (23,472) undocumented migrants, including (21,862) men and (1,610) women. The following measures have been taken:

• (16595) violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents.
• (1820) violators were referred to complete their travel arrangements.
• (14867) violators were deported to their countries after completing the legal procedures.

Strict penalties for those who conceal information

In a related context, (11) individuals were apprehended for their involvement in transporting, harboring, employing, and concealing violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations. The Ministry of Interior reiterated its strong warning that anyone who facilitates the entry of border security violators into the Kingdom, transports them within its borders, provides them with shelter, or offers them any assistance or service whatsoever, will be subject to deterrent penalties, including imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine of up to one million riyals, confiscation of the vehicle and accommodation used for sheltering them, and public shaming. The Ministry emphasized that this crime is considered a major offense warranting arrest and is a breach of honor and integrity.

Reporting figures

The ministry urged everyone to cooperate and report any violations via the number (911) in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and the numbers (999) and (996) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom, to ensure continued security and safety.