Saudi Arabia detains over 25,000 illegal residents

Saudi Arabia has arrested over 25,000 illegal residents in a recent security operation. This crackdown took place from March 13 to March 19 and aimed to enforce residency, labor, and border laws. In total, 25,150 individuals were detained during the campaign across various regions of the country. The arrests included 17,886 people violating the Residency Law, 4,247 breaking the Border Security Law, and 3,017 who breached Labor Law. Authorities also referred 30,528 violators to their embassies to arrange travel documents. Additionally, 12,008 individuals were deported, while 1,553 were caught trying to cross the border illegally. Most of the violators were Ethiopian nationals, making up 69% of those arrested, followed by Yemenis at 28%. In a related operation, 36 people were arrested for helping or transporting these violators. Currently, 38,061 illegal residents, including 35,795 men and 2,266 women, are facing legal action. Officials emphasized that this crackdown is crucial for maintaining national security and creating a more organized labor market. The Ministry of Interior has warned citizens and legal residents against helping illegal residents, stating that it is a crime that can lead to fines and imprisonment.