Babil police detain 113 foreign nationals in residency enforcement sweep

BABIL — Police in Babil detained 113 foreign nationals on Wednesday for violating residency regulations during a coordinated inspection campaign at a factory in the northern part of the governorate, according to a statement from local authorities.

“In the framework of joint efforts to address the issue of unlicensed foreign labor, the Babil Intelligence Directorate carried out a coordinated field inspection campaign,” Babil Police said.

The operation included participation from the Deportation Committee of the Civil Status Directorate, the Residency Section, the Arrivals Unit of the Intelligence Directorate, and officials from both the National Security and Intelligence and Security departments.

The statement said the inspection “resulted in the apprehension of 113 violators of residency terms from various nationalities inside one of the factories in the area,” adding that one person was found carrying a forged passport. Authorities did not specify the individuals’ nationalities.

Legal proceedings were initiated against the detainees, who were referred to the Residency Affairs Directorate for further processing and deportation, according to the statement.

The operation is part of a broader national campaign targeting violations of Iraq’s residency laws. In April, the Interior Ministry deported 38 foreign nationals for similar violations. Earlier, in January, 691 foreign workers were arrested for breaking residency rules, with plans to deport them as well.

Residency Law No. 76 of 2017, officially titled the Law on the Residence of Foreigners, governs the entry, stay, and exit of non-Iraqis in the country. The law came into effect on Oct. 2, 2017, replacing a 1978 statute.