"The number of offenders expelled from the beginning of the campaign on November 4 up to 8 pm (0600 GMT) on Sunday has reached 110,243," said the General Passports Administration.

The nationwide crackdown started last month after the end of a seven-month amnesty for foreign migrants whose work permits had expired or who were not working for their official sponsors.

The government says its actions are aimed at providing jobs for Saudis. The unemployment rate stands at 12 percent.

Foreigners made up more than 9 million of Saudi Arabia's population of 29 million, the last census in 2010 showed.

Culture and Information Minister Abdel-Aziz Khawja said the crackdown would continue, despite criticism from human rights groups.

The kingdom had "given an opportunity to offenders to rectify their status," Khawja said after a weekly cabinet meeting.

FULL STORY: http://en.alalam.ir/news/1540519