The Passports Department has launched a concerted campaign to arrest and deport illegal expatriates ahead of this year's Haj season. The crackdown targets thousands of people who have come here on Umrah visas and overstayed their legal time in search of some odd jobs in various parts of the Kingdom, specially Jeddah, Makkah and Madina. In a stern warning against any one helping Umrah visa violators on Sunday, Major General Salim Bin Muhammad Al-Bulaihed, Director General of Passports, said any assistance and support to them by providing them shelter, employing them or transporting them will be considered “flagrant violation of the laws.” Any person committing such a crime, he said, will be subject to punishment, including imprisonment or fines of SR10,000 or both. In case of repeat violation, Al-Bulaihed warned, the punishment will be doubled and deportation of expatriates providing accommodation to Umrah visa violators. – SG __
