Deportation of foreign workers with a criminal record – detected through the fingerprinting system introduced a year ago – has been put on hold indefinitely starting Tuesday, sources said. The Passports Department will release the worker instead and have his/her sponsor sign an undertaking to bring the worker if needed, the sources said. The idea is to find a better way to deal with legal expatriate residents having a criminal record, and a committee is expected to be formed to look into this. The worker won't be released if he or she is wanted on criminal charges, rather, he or she will be referred to the authorities concerned. However, if the worker has been previously ordered to be deported, then exit is the only course. The fingerprinting system was created to fight expat crime by detecting those found with a criminal record and deporting them. All legally residing expats are now fingerprinted and photographed when renewing their Iqamas and driver's licenses or transferring their sponsorship. The Kingdom is home of around seven million foreigners. In addition, the country receives over five million pilgrims for Haj and Umrah every year. Many pilgrims stay on illegally after their visas expire, and a big chunk of them are involved in criminal activities. It is not uncommon for illegal residents seeking to leave the Kingdom to surrender and get themselves deported, in which case they need not bear the cost of the airline ticket.
