Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — As many as 432,562 expatriates have been arrested since the launch more than two months ago of a coordinated crackdown on expatriates living in the country in violation of labor and residency regulations, press reports said quoting officials.

The crackdown, which is part of the Nation Without Illegal Expats campaign, began on Nov. 15 with the participation of 19 ministries and government departments

Campaign officials said a total of 98,286 of foreigners were deported to their respective countries.

They said 276,415 people were arrested for breaching residency laws, 110,618 for labor laws and 45,529 for border security.

As many as 6,080 people who tried to sneak into the Kingdom through its southern borders were nabbed and deported, the officials said, adding that 76 percent of the infiltrators were Yemenis, 22 percent Ethiopians and 2 percent of various nationalities.

At least 360 people who tried to sneak out of the country illegally were also apprehended in the past two months.

According to the officials, 12,099 expatriates are currently being held at various detention centers. They included 10,091 men and 2,008 women.

About 66,000 expatriates have been referred to their diplomatic missions to be issued with travel documents while 71,539 have been completing their flight bookings to leave the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, 890 people, including 138 Saudis, were arrested and charged with providing transport and shelter to illegal residents. Of the detained Saudis, 124 have been released after being penalized while 14 are still under investigation.