JEDDAH — The sprawling detention camp set up at Shumaisy outside Makkah for processing illegal expatriates detained during the ongoing clampdown on residency law violators has stepped up efforts to quickly repatriate the inmates. The center processes around 5,000 cases a day and those with complete documents are processed within five hours. The latest statistics show that 50,284 illegals were deported in the first month of the current Hijri year. The center is extending a full range of services to inmates awaiting repatriation to their home countries. Okaz/Saudi Gazette visited the center and witnessed officers expediting the processing of documents to complete repatriation of inmates in record time. The center covers an area of 2,450,000 square meters and cost more than SR2 billion to build. The 3,000-bed center has two mosques and a 50-bed hospital. An automatic laundry, covering an area of 800 square meters, will soon be in service, and all illegals at the center will get their clothes washed and ironed for free. The center also has offices for consulates, airlines, a mortuary and other required services. It also includes offices of more than 14 government bodies. The center is supervised by the Ministry of Finance but is run by the Ministry of Interior. Maj. Fahd Al-Harthi accompanied Okaz/Saudi Gazette on the tour that lasted for five hours. The visit coincided with the arrival of several buses of illegals who are awaiting deportation. Upon arrival at the center, the illegals are grouped by nationalities, their personal information recorded by immigration officers and are then fingerprinted. Any illegal resident who has a criminal case against him is referred to the police station inside the center. In another hall, statistical data on the number of illegals processed at the center was being compiled. Different nationalities are grouped separately to prevent possible outbreak of scuffles. There are separae accommodations for Arabs, Asians and Africans. After being checked into their accommodations, they are served food and allowed to meet with a representative of their consulate. They are then photographed and a consulate representative issues a special travel document. The Saudi government provides them air tickers to their respective home countries free of charge. Finally, they are directed to buses and taken to King Abdulaziz International Airport for final departure from the Kingdom. A number of consulates representatives have expressed their gratitude to the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the humane services offered to their nationals.
