About 6,000 overstayers were rounded up and deported on Friday. The overstayers had gathered under Jeddah's Al-Kandarah and Al-Khair bridges waiting to be deported to their countries. Over two dozen buses were deployed by the Makkah Region Passports Department to transport the overstayers. As the bridges were cleared of overstayers, the Department's patrols and Jeddah Mayoralty teams removed all the tents and stalls at the locations. Brig. Gen. Muhammad Hasan Al-Asmari, Director of Makkah Region Passports Department, said the regulations do not allow those who have come on visitors, Umrah and Haj visas to stay in the country after the expiry of the period specified in the visa. He made it clear that providing assistance to overstayers by accommodating, employing or providing them transport from one city to another is a clear violation of the regulations that is punishable by imprisonment for a maximum period of six months, a fine of at least SR10,000 per person plus deportation of the violating expatriate. – Okaz __
