Iraqi military intelligence arrests four foreigners attempting illegal entry via Nineveh

NINEVEH — Military Intelligence Directorate forces arrested four foreign nationals attempting to enter Nineveh Governorate illegally, the agency announced on Friday.

A statement said the arrests followed an intelligence-driven operation by the Intelligence and Security Section of the 15th Infantry Division. A field operation was set up “as part of ongoing efforts to curb the illegal entry of foreign labor into the country and support border security.”

The directorate confirmed that the individuals “attempted to infiltrate Iraqi territory in an unauthorized and unlawful manner.” They were handed over to the relevant authorities according to standard procedures.

In late November, Basra’s Residency Affairs Department said it deported 56 foreigners who violated residency rules through the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iran, warning that remaining violators will face the same measures.

Iraq has been intensifying enforcement against undocumented foreign workers in recent years. The Labour Ministry said it deported “more than 20,000 foreign workers in 2024, and more than 14,000 in 2025,” all without work permits, bringing the two-year total to over 34,000. According to ministry spokesperson Hassan Khawam, employers are required to hire “80 percent Iraqi labor and 20 percent foreign labor,” with inspectors visiting worksites to monitor compliance.