Over 14,000 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 laws, conducted across all regions of the Kingdom from August 27 to September 2, 2026, resulted in the arrest of 14,165 individuals.

Authorities stated that the arrests included 7,121 violators of residency regulations, 3,636 for border security violations, and 3,408 for labor law breaches.

Foiled illegal border crossings

Additionally, 1,315 people were apprehended while attempting to illegally cross into the Kingdom; 41% were Yemeni nationals, 58% Ethiopian, with other nationalities also involved. Another 42 individuals were caught trying to leave the Kingdom illegally.

Meanwhile, authorities detained 21 people for involvement in transporting, harboring, employing, or concealing violators.

Legal procedures and deportations

Currently, 29,773 violators are undergoing legal procedures, including 27,845 men and 1,928 women. A total of 18,937 violators have been referred to their diplomatic missions to complete travel documents, 3,240 to finalize travel bookings, and 12,363 have been deported.

Warnings and penalties

The Ministry of Interior warned that anyone facilitating the entry, transport, harboring, or assistance of border security violators faces penalties of up to 15 years in prison, fines up to 1 million riyals (SAR), confiscation of vehicles and housing used, and public naming. The ministry described these offenses as major crimes warranting detention and affecting honor and integrity.

The ministry urged the public to report violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 in other regions.