KUWAIT CITY, Aug 20: The extensive security campaigns aimed at arresting more than 120,000 expatriates who violated the Residency Law have been postponed due to overcrowding in the Central Prison and Deportation Center, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting an informed security source from the Residency Affairs General Department in the Interior Ministry.

The source disclosed the Deportation Center is currently full of expatriates awaiting deportation after their release from the Central Prison by virtue of the special amnesty granted to them.  This is in addition to the large number of detainees in police stations, the source said. 

The source pointed out the concerned agencies in the ministry are waiting for the deportation of expatriates who were released from prison and those detained in police stations once the operations of commercial flights return to normal before launching the intensive campaigns to arrest more than 120,000 expatriates who violated the Residency Law.  The source revealed these campaigns will most likely kick off before the end of this year.

The source added it remains unclear whether the ministry intends to give violators another deadline to rectify their status or not, indicating this matter is in the hands of the interior minister who will take measures he deems appropriate.