Saudi Arabia Detains Over 22,000 for Residency and Border Violations

Saudi Arabia Detains Over 22,000 for Residency and Border Violations
………….

Saudi authorities detained 22,156 people in one week for violations of residency, labor, and border security regulations, according to the Saudi Press Agency, as reported by Arab News. Officials said 14,027 individuals were arrested for breaching residency laws, 4,781 for attempting to cross borders illegally, and 3,348 over labor-related offenses.

Among the 1,924 people caught trying to enter the Kingdom unlawfully, 62 percent were Ethiopian, 37 percent Yemeni and the remainder from other nationalities. Another 32 individuals were stopped while trying to leave the country illegally, and 31 were detained for transporting or sheltering violators. The Interior Ministry warned that facilitating illegal entry can result in up to 15 years in prison, fines reaching SR1 million, and confiscation of vehicles and property.