Illegal residents will only be deported once the Saudi authorities are certain they have no criminal or civil cases pending against them, said Lt. Col. Muhammad Al-Hussein from the Makkah Passports Department. Many are currently living under bridges and overpasses in the city hoping to be arrested and get free deportation to their home countries, said Al-Hussein. When they are cleared, then the Saudi government will deport them, he added. After raids are conducted and arrests made, suspects with cases pending are passed on to the relevant authorities. They are also fingerprinted and documented, he added. Many have stayed in the Kingdom after Haj or Umrah and work odd jobs to make some money, he said. Saudi Gazette has seen large numbers of illegal residents, many of African descent, gathering under various Makkah bridges and overpasses with their belongings, especially in the area of Al-Mansour Street. Many are considered a security threat. __
