Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH – A number of Saudis found transporting residency and labor law violators are being held at detention center accommodating illegal expats, said Head of Public Relations and Media at the Makkah region Police Department Col. Badr Bin Saud. He said the law will be applied on illegals and those who are providing them jobs or transportation. The penalties include deportation and entry ban for foreigners while Saudis will get a maximum of two-year jail term or SR100,000 in fine or both, in addition to a recruitment ban, and confiscation of vehicles used for transportation of illegals. There will be additional fines for Saudis depending on the number of illegals. Col. Badr said the deportation of illegals will start after their information is documented and procedures are completed. He added that the campaign will continue until the labor market is rid of all undocumented workers. “Every foreigner living in the Kingdom should be living here legally,” he emphasized. “Those who did not rectify their status or did not take the inspection campaign seriously should suffer the consequences. Many illegal expat workers wanting to leave the country took refuge under bridges and other public places. They handed themselves in to the authorities. So we are focusing on such people,” said Col. Badr. He said: “We are operating in three stages. The first stage is dealing with illegals who are turning themselves in or are caught at checkpoints. The second stage is raiding underdeveloped neighborhoods and the places of gathering of illegals. The third stage will rely on tip off from residents about illegals being sheltered at homes.” He condemned the rioting by a group of illegals. “The best description to explain what happened is the term riot. The government is not committed toward those who violate the rules and don't respect regulations of the country,” Col. Badr said. Police are investigating 20 Ethiopian and Pakistani expatriates accused of taking part in riots and shutting down King Fahd (Sitteen) Road in Jeddah on Thursday. The rioters used wood and rocks to set up roadblocks on one of the city's main arteries and trashed car windows and terrorized motorists at the location. The authorities have also launched an investigation into the violence in Riyadh's Manfuhah after illegals attacked Saudis and other expats with rocks and knives last Saturday, killing 2 people and injuring many. On Nov. 4 the authorities began rounding up thousands of illegal foreign workers following the expiry of a final amnesty for them to formalize their status. Those considered to be illegal range from overstaying visitors and pilgrims seeking jobs to shop assistants and day laborers working for someone other than their sponsor. Having an official sponsor is a legal requirement in Saudi Arabia and most other Gulf states. Nearly a million migrants – Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indians, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis among them – took advantage of the amnesty to leave. Another roughly four million were able to find employers to sponsor them. The Labor Ministry said on Saturday that it will continue to accept applications from undocumented foreigners seeking to legalize their status, but that they will be fined and penalized for the elapsed period since the amnesty ended on Nov. 3.
