Saudi Arabia’s sweeping enforcement campaign against residence, labor and border violations led to thousands of arrests and legal actions in just one week, highlighting both the scale of the issue and the government’s determined response. The Ministry of Interior announced that Saudi Arabia’s joint field operations to monitor and apprehend violators of residence, labor and border security regulations recorded 22,931 violations across all sectors between March 12 and 18, 2026. Of those arrested, 17,181 were found to be in violation of residence laws, 3,931 were found to be in violation of border security, and 1,819 were found to be in violation of labor law, indicating that the majority of cases are linked to irregular residence status. The enforcement operations led to the detention of 1,635 persons attempting to enter the state illegally. Of them, 68% were citizens of Ethiopia, 29% were citizens of Yemen, and 3% were of other nationalities. Authorities further reported that 40 individuals were arrested while attempting to leave the country illegally, pointing to continued efforts to monitor both entry and exit routes. In addition to those directly violating the rules, 36 individuals were arrested for facilitating crimes, including transporting, harboring or employing violators and attempting to cover up their activities. The ministry’s data also shows the scale of the ongoing legal proceedings, with 29,564 migrants currently undergoing procedures, including 26,714 men and 2,850 women. As part of the administrative process, 21,133 violators have been sent to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents, while 3,285 individuals have been sent to complete travel arrangements. Meanwhile, 7,761 violators have already been deported, showing the speed at which authorities are processing cases. The Ministry of the Interior issued a stern warning that anyone involved in facilitating the illegal entry, transportation or harboring of violators could face up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to SR1 million, as well as confiscation of vehicles and housing used in such activities and public naming of offenders. It stressed that these crimes are classified as major crimes requiring custody and are considered delinquent. The public is urged to report violations through designated helplines, with 911 available in Mecca, Medina, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 or 996 in other areas, as authorities continue to expand enforcement efforts across the kingdom.