The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the results of joint field campaigns conducted across the Kingdom to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations. The campaigns, which took place between February 5 and 11, resulted in the arrest of 21,029 violators, including 2,307 individuals who attempted to infiltrate the country's borders.
Ongoing efforts within the framework of the “A Nation Without Violators” campaign
These campaigns are part of ongoing national efforts under the umbrella of the “A Nation Without Violators” campaign, launched in 2017. This comprehensive campaign aims to enhance national security, regulate the labor market, and address the negative consequences of undocumented workers. Thanks to its strong economy and strategic geographic location, the Kingdom is a major destination for job seekers, posing security and economic challenges that necessitate constant vigilance in border control and the apprehension of those violating regulations.
Details of the violations detected
Official statistics showed that the total number of violators who were apprehended was 21,029 people, distributed as follows:
- 12,875 people violated the residency regulations.
- 4,778 violators of the border security system.
- 3,376 violations of the labor law.
Additionally, 2,307 people were apprehended while attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom. Of these, 47% were Yemeni nationals, 52% were Ethiopian nationals, and the remaining 1% were of other nationalities. Furthermore, 75 people were arrested for attempting to leave the country illegally, and 29 individuals were apprehended for their involvement in transporting, harboring, employing, or concealing illegal residents.
Local and regional importance and impacts
These campaigns are of paramount importance both locally and regionally. Locally, they contribute to strengthening security and social stability, reducing the size of the informal economy, and providing a fair and regulated work environment that protects the rights of both employers and legal workers. Regionally, these measures reflect the Kingdom's commitment to securing its vast borders, which represent a crucial line of defense against smuggling, human trafficking, and other illicit activities often linked to irregular migration, particularly given the unstable conditions in some neighboring countries.
Regulatory procedures and deterrent penalties
Currently, 23,312 undocumented migrants are undergoing procedures for implementing the regulations, including 22,040 men and 1,272 women. 16,121 undocumented migrants have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 2,270 to finalize their travel arrangements, and 13,213 have been deported.
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, is subject to penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to one million riyals, confiscation of the vehicle and accommodation used, and public shaming. 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.
