Over 13,000 violators of residency, labor, and border laws arrested in one week

Joint field campaigns to monitor and apprehend violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations, conducted across all regions of the Kingdom from 06/04/1448H (September 17, 2026) to 12/04/1448H (September 23, 2026), resulted in the following outcomes:

First: The total number of violators arrested during the joint security field campaigns in all regions reached 13,628, including 6,593 for residency violations, 3,531 for border security violations, and 3,504 for labor violations.

Second: A total of 1,197 people were apprehended while attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom—36% of Yemeni nationality, 63% Ethiopian, and 1% of other nationalities. Additionally, 27 individuals were caught trying to leave the Kingdom illegally.

Third: Authorities arrested 22 people involved in transporting, harboring, employing, or concealing violators of residency, labor, and border security regulations.

Fourth: Currently, 31,398 violators are undergoing procedures for implementing the regulations, including 29,018 men and 2,380 women.

Fifth: A total of 18,549 violators have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 3,815 have been referred to complete travel bookings, and 12,628 have been deported.

The Ministry of Interior stressed that anyone facilitating the entry, transport, shelter, or provision of any assistance or service to border security violators exposes themselves to penalties of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to 1 million riyals (SAR), confiscation of the means of transport and accommodation used, and public naming. The ministry clarified that this offense is considered a major crime warranting arrest and is a breach of honor and trust. The public is urged to report violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 in other regions.