RIYADH : The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 19,101 illegal immigrants in a week-long nationwide campaign targeting visa violators, undocumented workers and others breaching immigration or labour regulations.

The large-scale operation was carried out in several areas, including Riyadh, Makkah, and Eastern Province, and included coordinated inspections of workplaces, residential areas, and commercial establishments. Officials said the measures are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen labour market regulation, immigration enforcement and oversight mechanisms, in line with broader economic reform goals.

Officials confirmed that detainees will be subject to screening procedures before being tried, fined, or potentially deported based on their status, while employers found to have facilitated illegal employment may face heavy penalties. The ministry reiterated its call to foreigners and businesses to organise their documents through official channels to avoid fraud. Human rights activists, meanwhile, have urged authorities to ensure due process and humane treatment of detainees, stressing that large-scale crackdowns often raise concerns about the protection of vulnerable migrant workers.

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