Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — As many as 793,421 expatriates living in the country in violation of the residency and labor regulations have been arrested so far in a nationwide crackdown that was launched on Nov. 15, 2017, as part of a Nation Without Illegal Expats campaign.

According to campaign officials, 196,343 of the detainees have been deported to their respective countries.

Giving a breakdown of the detainees, they said 567,426 of the detainees had violated the residency law, 158,241 the labor laws and 67,754 the border security system.

They said 11,084 people were caught trying to infiltrate into the Kingdom from its southern borders. About 60 percent of the infiltrators were Yemenis and 37 percent Ethiopians.

The officials said 574 people were arrested while trying to sneak out of the Kingdom.

They said 1,511 people, including 237 Saudis, were arrested for providing accommodation and transport to illegal expatriates. Of them, 211 Saudis were questioned, punished and released while 26 others are still under investigation.

According to the officials, 146,173 illegal expatriates were immediately penalized, 111,699 referred to their respective embassies and consulates to issue them with travel documents and 129,117 were in the process of making travel bookings after being issued deportation orders.

The officials said 14,136 expatriates, consisting of 11,958 men and 2,178 women, were currently being held at various detention centers in the country.