During the period from April 10 to April 16, 2025, joint field campaigns to monitor and control violators of residency, work, and border security regulations across all regions of the Kingdom led to the apprehension of 20,688 individuals who were in violation of these laws. These violators consisted of 12,372 individuals in violation of residency regulations, 4,750 in violation of border security regulations, and 3,566 in violation of labor laws.
A detailed breakdown of the campaign results is as follows: firstly, a total of 12,372 individuals were caught in various regions of the Kingdom, including 12,372 residency violators, 4,750 border security violators, and 3,566 labor law violators. Secondly, out of the 1,264 individuals attempting to cross the Kingdom’s borders illegally, 36% were of Yemeni nationality, 61% were Ethiopian nationals, and 3% belonged to other nationalities. Additionally, 93 individuals were apprehended while trying to leave the Kingdom through illegal means.
Furthermore, 27 individuals were found complicit in transporting, harboring, and employing violators of residency, work, and border security regulations. Currently, there are 32,417 violators – consisting of 30,038 men and 2,379 women – undergoing enforcement procedures.
Moreover, 24,811 violators have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, 2,936 violators have been referred to complete their travel reservations, and 12,235 violators have been deported.
The Ministry of Interior emphasized that any individual facilitating the entry of border security violators into the Kingdom, transporting them within the country, providing them shelter, or offering any form of assistance or services, is subject to penalties including up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to one million riyals, confiscation of the means of transportation and housing used for shelter, as well as publicizing the crime. This offense is considered a serious crime warranting detention, undermining integrity and trustworthiness, and urging the public to report any violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
