JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia has deported at least 868,065 illegal foreigners since November 2017 in a nationwide crackdown that saw more than 3.49 million people rounded up in various parts of the Kingdom for violating residency and labor regulations. The Interior Ministry said security forces apprehended a total of 3,489,854 expatriates in what is dubbed as a Nation Free of Illegals campaign until Thursday, July 11, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Friday quoting campaign officials. The campaign was launched in mid-November 2017 with the participation of 19 ministries and government departments including the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the Directorate General of Passports. The officials said 2,721,206 people were arrested for violating the system of residency, 538,862 for not adhering to labor regulations and 229,788 for trying to breach border security. They said 58,843 people were arrested while sneaking into the Kingdom through its southern borders. About 47 percent of the infiltrators were Yemenis, 50 percent Ethiopians and 3 percent from various other nationalities. According to the campaign sources, 2,558 people were caught while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally while 3,996 people were charged with sheltering illegal residents by providing with accommodation and transportation. They included 1,380 Saudi nationals, of whom 1,343 were released after they underwent punishments while 37 others are still under investigation. The sources said 12,702 illegal expatriates, including 10,866 men and 1,836 women, were currently being held in various detention centers in the country. They said 450,109 violators were referred to their respective embassies and consulates to issue them travel documents while 575,775 were completing their flight bookings for final exit from the Kingdom and 868,65 violators were deported.
