As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance security and regulate the labor market, Saudi authorities announced the results of joint field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations. These campaigns, which covered all regions of the Kingdom from January 22 to 28, resulted in the arrest of 19,975 violators, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to the firm enforcement of its laws and regulations.
Background of security campaigns in the Kingdom
These campaigns are part of a broader security and economic strategy adopted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically within the framework of the comprehensive national campaign “A Nation Without Violators,” launched in 2017. This campaign aims to regularize the status of undocumented residents, facilitate their departure, and address the negative security, economic, and social consequences of their presence. These efforts also align with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to create a safe and organized investment environment and enhance the efficiency of the labor market by reducing irregular employment, which constitutes a parallel economy that negatively impacts the national economy.
Details of the weekly campaign results
Official figures showed detailed results of the campaigns during the last week, with violators classified as follows:
- Total number of violators: 19,975 violators were apprehended.
- 12,906 people violated the residency regulations.
- 3,918 violators of the border security system.
- 3,151 violations of the labor law.
- Attempts to infiltrate the borders: A total of 1,716 people were apprehended while attempting to cross the borders into the Kingdom. Yemeni nationals constituted 39% of this number, Ethiopian nationals 60%, and the remaining percentage was distributed among other nationalities. Additionally, 48 people were apprehended while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally.
- Those involved in assisting: 11 people were arrested for their involvement in transporting, harboring, employing, or covering up for offenders.
Actions taken against violators
A large number of undocumented migrants are currently undergoing enforcement procedures, with a total of 23,472 individuals subject to these procedures, including 21,862 men and 1,610 women. These procedures included referring 16,595 violators to their respective diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, referring 1,820 violators to finalize their travel arrangements, and deporting 14,867 violators who have already been deported.
Importance and expected effects
These campaigns are of paramount importance on several levels. Locally, they contribute to enhancing community security by reducing crimes that may be linked to the presence of undocumented immigrants, and they support efforts to localize jobs and provide employment opportunities for citizens. Regionally, these measures reflect the Kingdom's sovereignty over its borders and its ability to maintain security in a region facing geopolitical challenges, particularly along its southern border. Internationally, these campaigns underscore the Kingdom's commitment to international laws related to combating human trafficking and illegal immigration.
Warning from the Ministry of Interior
The Ministry of Interior reiterated that anyone who facilitates the entry of violators of the Kingdom's border security regulations, transports them within the Kingdom, provides them with shelter, or offers them any assistance or service whatsoever, 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 transport and the accommodation used for sheltering the violators will be confiscated, and the violators will be publicly named and shamed. The Ministry urged citizens and residents to report any violations via the designated numbers: 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, and 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom.
