The overstayers are demanding a speedy and free way out of Jeddah and back to their home country with their families.

“This area is our new home for now, as we have been living and sleeping under King Fahd Bridge, but we got tired and the situation got worse after the rains. We decided to come here instead in the hope that setting up camp might expedite our free deportation,” said a 33-year-old former Filipino employee in Jeddah.

“There is close cooperation between our department and foreign consulates to figure out a proper way to accommodate each nationality and also process their papers, especially overstaying offenders who are looking for a free exit out of the country,” said Col. Hussein Al-Harithy of the Passport Department in Jeddah.

“I carry no legal or valid documents, my iqama expired and I lost it. Working without a visa makes it hard to renegotiate money and working hours. It became hard to keep a job so I ran away,” said a former electrician who did not give his name.

Among the crowd were many who arrived on Umrah visas before choosing to illegally remain in the country.

After working in the Kingdom for years, they are now hoping to return to the Philippines.

“I worked multiple jobs during the few years of my stay here to make a living. Whatever I made was sent to my family back home. I have family in the city, but neither they nor myself can afford money for my exit or deportation ticket,” said 28-year-old Naieema.

“The majority of overstayers hold no legal or valid documents to help us process their cases so they can be deported from the country, which is a necessary part of screening procedures for such cases,” said Al-Harithy.

He added that when the consulates provide all relevant legal documents, deportation permits will be given to overstayers.