Saudi authorities have deported 10,000 expatriates in the past week as part of a nationwide crackdown on residency, labor, and border violations.
Arrests and Detentions
The security forces arrested over 21,000 people during the joint field operations throughout the kingdom. Among them are nearly 14,000 who resided illegally within the state; 4,600 border security violators, and more than 3,000 labor law violators.
Illegal Border Crossers
Authorities also arrested 1,477 illegal border crossers, 41 percent of whom are Yemenis, while 55 percent are Ethiopians, and 4 percent other nationalities.
Punishment for Assistors
It has also been targeted against people who are accused of harboring, transporting, or employing expatriates without documentation. The perpetrators are liable for imprisonment up to 15 years, a fine of up to 1 million Saudi riyals, and seizure of the vehicles or properties used in committing the crime.
These measures underscore the commitment of Saudi Arabia to enforcing residency and labor laws, thus trying to keep order and regulate the presence of expatriates within the kingdom.