Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 22,021 individuals for immigration-related offenses during a series of raids conducted from August 29 to September 4.
The operations targeted residency, border security, and labor law violations.
The breakdown of those arrested includes 14,508 for residency law violations, 4,511 for border security breaches, and 3,002 for labor law infractions.
Around 998 individuals were apprehended while attempting to illegally cross the border, with the majority being Yemeni and Ethiopian nationals.
Eleven people were also arrested for facilitating these violations.
Currently, over 15,000 expatriates are undergoing legal procedures, with many referred to their embassies for travel document assistance or deportation.
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The Ministry has issued a stern warning that those caught aiding illegal immigration could face severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines.
Authorities have encouraged public to report any violations to designated authorities.
