The Saudi authorities began on Monday a clampdown on illegal immigrants after the end of an amnesty that gave overstayers and workers a grace period to leave or legalise their status. Police patrols will be searching for illegally staying foreigners and those who help them, Interior Ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki said late on Sunday. Violators will be arrested, penalised and deported, he said. Nearly a million Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indians, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis, among others, have taken advantage of the three-month amnesty – announced on April 3 and then extended for four months – and left the country.