Latest news with #ImmigrationControlandRefugeeRecognitionAct
The Mainichi
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Driven by war, persecution, asylum seekers in Japan still far from securing freedom
TOKYO -- While refugee applicants in Japan who have been ordered deported can apply for "provisional release" from detention, they are not allowed to travel across prefectural borders nor can they join the national health insurance system or work in the country. According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, there were 12,373 people who applied for refugee status in this country in 2024, of which only 190 were granted it. This reporter followed people on provisional release while they waited for, with a glimmer of hope, recognition as refugees. Ruby (a pseudonym), an asylum seeker from Sri Lanka, is on temporary release after arriving in Japan in 2002. He served as a bodyguard for a key figure of a political party he supported in his country, but was attacked by an adversary force while traveling by bus to work as a guard in 1996, and underwent surgery on his right arm for gunshot wounds. Sensing his life was in danger, he sought refuge in Japan. He is hoping to continue staying here, saying the force that assaulted him is still in operation in his country. Under the revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act that came into effect in June 2024, foreign nationals can apply for refugee status no more than twice in principle. Deportation is suspended during refugee recognition procedures. As Ruby's third refugee application was not granted, he could be deported anytime. He has moved from Arrupe Refugee Center, a shelter in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, where he lived for five years, to a welfare facility in the Tokyo suburban city of Machida. Once every month, he turns up at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau in the capital's Minato Ward to go thorough procedures for renewing his provisional release status, but due to fears of possible deportation at the time, he is losing sleep night after night. Odanibe Ovie Lucky, a 49-year-old Nigerian man applying for refugee status for a third time, is also living in fear of deportation. After participating in an antigovernment rally in Nigeria, he left the country in 2000. He currently lives in Japan with his 47-year-old Japanese wife. The couple met in 2016, when Lucky spoke to her at a park in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo. As his wife had never been abroad, her first impression of him was "scary." But after talking with him, she was attracted by his kind and cheerful nature, and found herself going out with him. In March 2017, Lucky was detained at an immigration facility. "I want to support him steadily," she thought, and filed a marriage report on her own that May. Although her husband was released in December, she developed depression due to fears that he could be detained again, leaving them separated. While the wife is on welfare, it is difficult to cover the living expenses for the two of them. "We've been married for eight years. She's been with me no matter how hard a time I was going through. I want to make her feel at ease, even if only a little. I've got no other choice but to keep appealing (for my asylum) without giving up," Lucky told the Mainichi Shimbun. A Yugoslavian asylum seeker, Florim, 55, is living in Arrupe Refugee Center while on provisional release and waiting for his second refugee application, which he filed in 2019, to be accepted. Florim had his parents killed in front of him during the civil war in Yugoslavia. As if driven away, he moved from one country to another, including Hungary, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. Desiring to live outside Europe to avoid coming across former Yugoslavia citizens, he decided to settle in Japan in 2000 when he was 29. Amid the chaos, Florim wasn't carrying a passport with him and was detained at Narita Airport for allegedly using a fake passport upon entry. He was kept in detention at an immigration facility until 2009, and developed post-traumatic stress disorder there. Later at a house in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, that was arranged for him by a refugee support group, Florim got into a panic at night and attempted to take his own life. With no certificate of his origin, and not knowing which country he belongs to following the breakup of former Yugoslavia, he remains stateless. He continues to undergo treatment for PTSD in Japan. As he was an Albanian resident, he is terrified that he may not be able to receive proper treatment if he returns home. After spending many years in Japan, he has a trusted partner but cannot marry due to his own statelessness. "I have no country to go back to, and the evil effects of the civil war still linger on. I hope Japan will be my last country to live in, and want to experience a free life here," he told the Mainichi, as he wishes for his refugee application to be granted. Mimi (a pseudonym), a Myanmarese woman who came to Japan over a decade ago, lived in Arrupe Refugee Center around the same time as Ruby. She was subsequently given a residency status for specified activities in June 2022 after spending some time on provisional release. She currently works as a full-time caregiver at a welfare facility in Kamakura. Affectionately called "Mimi-chan" by colleagues and users at the facility, she is known as a mood maker and for lively expressions on her face. She recalls that the best moment was when an employee told her, "You're one of our staff members." She questioned, "I don't understand why the (government) response is different when Ruby is a fellow refugee. I want them to at least abolish provisional release and create a system allowing asylum seekers to work. If they can live independently, they can also pay taxes." (Japanese original by Yuki Miyatake, Photo and Video Department)
The Mainichi
30-04-2025
- The Mainichi
Japan's Kanagawa Pref. police mistakenly arrest Thai woman for not carrying passport
YOKOHAMA -- Police in eastern Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture mistakenly arrested a Thai woman for not carrying her passport, failing to notice it inside a sanitary napkin in her possession, it has been learned. According to investigative sources, Isezaki Police Station officers arrested the woman around the evening of April 28 for allegedly violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act by not carrying her passport. During an initial body check at the scene, police failed to find the passport inside the sanitary napkin. It was only discovered during a subsequent search after her arrest. The police station temporarily released the woman, but arrested her again under the same law on suspicion of residing in the country illegally after a check with immigration authorities reinforced suspicions that she had overstayed her visa. A prefectural police representative commented, "We conducted a thorough investigation, including a body check. At this point, we believe the investigation was appropriate." (Japanese original by Chika Yokomi, Yokohama Bureau)
The Mainichi
27-04-2025
- The Mainichi
Overstayers in Japan face criminal stigma
MAEBASHI, Japan (Kyodo) -- The temperature outside was below freezing in this city northwest of Tokyo as local residents stirred early on a February morning. But the atmosphere was tense inside the heated parked vehicle where Japanese police officers awaited a report near an apartment building. The radio crackled to life. "She came out. She's carrying trash," a police officer said over the radio. A Filipina woman had emerged from a second-floor room of the building carrying a garbage bag. The moment she descended the stairs, Gunma prefectural police investigators and officers from the Immigration Services Agency rushed her. "She admits she has overstayed her visa," came another report over the radio. She was taken into custody without incident. The woman was caught on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. This law imposes penalties on those who "do not renew or change their period of stay and remain in Japan past the expiration date." She appeared to be no different from other foreigners of good standing in the neighborhood she resided in Kiryu, a city of 100,000 in Gunma Prefecture. So why, some have begun to ask, are foreigners who overstay their visa treated like common criminals? On the same day, three other Filipino men and women were detained for violating the immigration law in a joint investigation by the prefectural police and the immigration office. All of them including the woman had entered Japan as short-term visitors or as technical interns and stayed past the expiration dates of their visas. There were no other charges against them. After being "voluntarily" questioned at the police station, three, with the exception of a pregnant woman, were transferred to a detention facility in the afternoon. If arrested, the process is detention, prosecution and trial. But in cases where there are no additional crimes or the period of undocumented stay is short, a warrantless arrest is carried out, followed by questioning, detention and deportation to the country of origin, as in this case. According to the Justice Ministry, in 2024, 18,908 foreigners were deported by the immigration office for violating the immigration control law. Of these, more than 90 percent (17,746) had overstayed. In 2024, in Gunma Prefecture in particular, foreigners accounted for 12.2 percent of "criminal offenses and special law offenses," also including those committed by Japanese nationals. In terms of ratio, Gunma ranked first in the nation for foreign crime offenses from 2019 to 2023, and second in 2024. About half (232) of the arrests were of foreigners of undocumented status. According to interviews conducted by the immigration office and investigative authorities, 90 percent came to Gunma for the purpose of employment, and 70 percent worked as laborers or in agriculture. The prefectural police, however, say they are not solely focused on identifying those who overstay their visas. "Many foreigners are living in compliance with the law. We are also working with the prefectural and local governments to implement multicultural policies," said a police official. Although cracking down on foreign nationals who overstay their visas aligns with the law, there are those who have doubts. A Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Honjo, Saitama Prefecture, which provides shelter to destitute Vietnamese residents of Japan, is regularly visited by technical interns seeking advice on bullying and work-related accidents. During the coronavirus pandemic, the Daionji temple took in waves of Vietnamese who were suddenly laid off and unable to return to their home country. "The main hall was filled to overflowing. Things have calmed down now," said Buddhist nun Thich Tam Tri, 47. Since 2020, Thich has appealed for assistance through the media and has distributed food and supplies for approximately 60,000 people. Including three other shelters, one of which is in Tokyo, over 2,000 people have taken refuge at the sites. While expressing shame over fellow Vietnamese who commit crimes in Japan, when asked if being undocumented falls under the same category, she said, "There are people who overstay due to unavoidable circumstances. It is difficult under current Japanese law, but I hope they will be given another chance." Overseas, there is a growing realization that not having regular residency status does not constitute the same "crime" as injury, theft or other criminal offenses. In 1975, the U.N. General Assembly and in 2009, the European Parliament asked relevant organizations to describe "illegal immigrants," which has a negative connotation, as "irregular" or "undocumented" immigrants among other more neutral terms to protect the human rights of foreign workers. In contrast, Japan has seen little to no progress in revising the language to call illegal immigrants undocumented. However, in 2023, the Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan, a nonprofit organization, launched a campaign calling for the terms "irregular stay" or "unregistered stay" to be used to describe those without residence status. "The word 'illegal' itself gives a negative impression and promotes prejudice and discrimination against immigrants and refugees," said Sachi Takaya, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Tokyo and a member of the network's steering committee. (By Tomomi Akasaka)
Kyodo News
25-04-2025
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Visa overstayers in Japan face stigma of criminality
By Tomomi Akasaka, KYODO NEWS - 22 hours ago - 11:16 | Japan, All, World The temperature outside was below freezing in this city northwest of Tokyo as local residents stirred early on a February morning. But the atmosphere was tense inside the heated parked vehicle where Japanese police officers awaited a report near an apartment building. The radio crackled to life. "She came out. She's carrying trash," a police officer said over the radio. A Filipina woman had emerged from a second-floor room of the building carrying a garbage bag. The moment she descended the stairs, Gunma prefectural police investigators and officers from the Immigration Services Agency rushed her. "She admits she has overstayed her visa," came another report over the radio. She was taken into custody without incident. The woman was caught on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. This law imposes penalties on those who "do not renew or change their period of stay and remain in Japan past the expiration date." She appeared to be no different from other foreigners of good standing in the neighborhood she resided in Kiryu, a city of 100,000 in Gunma Prefecture. So why, some have begun to ask, are foreigners who overstay their visa treated like common criminals? On the same day, three other Filipino men and women were detained for violating the immigration law in a joint investigation by the prefectural police and the immigration office. All of them including the woman had entered Japan as short-term visitors or as technical interns and stayed past the expiration dates of their visas. There were no other charges against them. After being "voluntarily" questioned at the police station, three, with the exception of a pregnant woman, were transferred to a detention facility in the afternoon. If arrested, the process is detention, prosecution and trial. But in cases where there are no additional crimes or the period of undocumented stay is short, a warrantless arrest is carried out, followed by questioning, detention and deportation to the country of origin, as in this case. According to the Justice Ministry, in 2024, 18,908 foreigners were deported by the immigration office for violating the immigration control law. Of these, more than 90 percent (17,746) had overstayed. In 2024, in Gunma Prefecture in particular, foreigners accounted for 12.2 percent of "criminal offenses and special law offenses," also including those committed by Japanese nationals. In terms of ratio, Gunma ranked first in the nation for foreign crime offenses from 2019 to 2023, and second in 2024. About half (232) of the arrests were of foreigners of undocumented status. According to interviews conducted by the immigration office and investigative authorities, 90 percent came to Gunma for the purpose of employment, and 70 percent worked as laborers or in agriculture. The prefectural police, however, say they are not solely focused on identifying those who overstay their visas. "Many foreigners are living in compliance with the law. We are also working with the prefectural and local governments to implement multicultural policies," said a police official. Although cracking down on foreign nationals who overstay their visas aligns with the law, there are those who have doubts. A Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Honjo, Saitama Prefecture, which provides shelter to destitute Vietnamese residents of Japan, is regularly visited by technical interns seeking advice on bullying and work-related accidents. During the coronavirus pandemic, the Daionji temple took in waves of Vietnamese who were suddenly laid off and unable to return to their home country. "The main hall was filled to overflowing. Things have calmed down now," said Buddhist nun Thich Tam Tri, 47. Since 2020, Thich has appealed for assistance through the media and has distributed food and supplies for approximately 60,000 people. Including three other shelters, one of which is in Tokyo, over 2,000 people have taken refuge at the sites. While expressing shame over fellow Vietnamese who commit crimes in Japan, when asked if being undocumented falls under the same category, she said, "There are people who overstay due to unavoidable circumstances. It is difficult under current Japanese law, but I hope they will be given another chance." Overseas, there is a growing realization that not having regular residency status does not constitute the same "crime" as injury, theft or other criminal offenses. In 1975, the U.N. General Assembly and in 2009, the European Parliament asked relevant organizations to describe "illegal immigrants," which has a negative connotation, as "irregular" or "undocumented" immigrants among other more neutral terms to protect the human rights of foreign workers. In contrast, Japan has seen little to no progress in revising the language to call illegal immigrants undocumented. However, in 2023, the Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan, a nonprofit organization, launched a campaign calling for the terms "irregular stay" or "unregistered stay" to be used to describe those without residence status. "The word 'illegal' itself gives a negative impression and promotes prejudice and discrimination against immigrants and refugees," said Sachi Takaya, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Tokyo and a member of the network's steering committee. Related coverage: FEATURE: Hate speech bringing unwanted focus on Japan's Kurdish community FEATURE: Firms urged to end "maternity harassment" of technical interns
Kyodo News
24-04-2025
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Visa overstayers in Japan face stigma of criminality
By Tomomi Akasaka, KYODO NEWS - 5 minutes ago - 11:16 | Japan, All, World The temperature outside was below freezing in this city northwest of Tokyo as local residents stirred early on a February morning. But the atmosphere was tense inside the heated parked vehicle where Japanese police officers awaited a report near an apartment building. The radio crackled to life. "She came out. She's carrying trash," a police officer said over the radio. A Filipina woman had emerged from a second-floor room of the building carrying a garbage bag. The moment she descended the stairs, Gunma prefectural police investigators and officers from the Immigration Services Agency rushed her. "She admits she has overstayed her visa," came another report over the radio. She was taken into custody without incident. The woman was caught on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. This law imposes penalties on those who "do not renew or change their period of stay and remain in Japan past the expiration date." She appeared to be no different from other foreigners of good standing in the neighborhood she resided in Kiryu, a city of 100,000 in Gunma Prefecture. So why, some have begun to ask, are foreigners who overstay their visa treated like common criminals? On the same day, three other Filipino men and women were detained for violating the immigration law in a joint investigation by the prefectural police and the immigration office. All of them including the woman had entered Japan as short-term visitors or as technical interns and stayed past the expiration dates of their visas. There were no other charges against them. After being "voluntarily" questioned at the police station, three, with the exception of a pregnant woman, were transferred to a detention facility in the afternoon. If arrested, the process is detention, prosecution and trial. But in cases where there are no additional crimes or the period of undocumented stay is short, a warrantless arrest is carried out, followed by questioning, detention and deportation to the country of origin, as in this case. According to the Justice Ministry, in 2024, 18,908 foreigners were deported by the immigration office for violating the immigration control law. Of these, more than 90 percent (17,746) had overstayed. In 2024, in Gunma Prefecture in particular, foreigners accounted for 12.2 percent of "criminal offenses and special law offenses," also including those committed by Japanese nationals. In terms of ratio, Gunma ranked first in the nation for foreign crime offenses from 2019 to 2023, and second in 2024. About half (232) of the arrests were of foreigners of undocumented status. According to interviews conducted by the immigration office and investigative authorities, 90 percent came to Gunma for the purpose of employment, and 70 percent worked as laborers or in agriculture. The prefectural police, however, say they are not solely focused on identifying those who overstay their visas. "Many foreigners are living in compliance with the law. We are also working with the prefectural and local governments to implement multicultural policies," said a police official. Although cracking down on foreign nationals who overstay their visas aligns with the law, there are those who have doubts. A Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Honjo, Saitama Prefecture, which provides shelter to destitute Vietnamese residents of Japan, is regularly visited by technical interns seeking advice on bullying and work-related accidents. During the coronavirus pandemic, the Daionji temple took in waves of Vietnamese who were suddenly laid off and unable to return to their home country. "The main hall was filled to overflowing. Things have calmed down now," said Buddhist nun Thich Tam Tri, 47. Since 2020, Thich has appealed for assistance through the media and has distributed food and supplies for approximately 60,000 people. Including three other shelters, one of which is in Tokyo, over 2,000 people have taken refuge at the sites. While expressing shame over fellow Vietnamese who commit crimes in Japan, when asked if being undocumented falls under the same category, she said, "There are people who overstay due to unavoidable circumstances. It is difficult under current Japanese law, but I hope they will be given another chance." Overseas, there is a growing realization that not having regular residency status does not constitute the same "crime" as injury, theft or other criminal offenses. In 1975, the U.N. General Assembly and in 2009, the European Parliament asked relevant organizations to describe "illegal immigrants," which has a negative connotation, as "irregular" or "undocumented" immigrants among other more neutral terms to protect the human rights of foreign workers. In contrast, Japan has seen little to no progress in revising the language to call illegal immigrants undocumented. However, in 2023, the Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan, a nonprofit organization, launched a campaign calling for the terms "irregular stay" or "unregistered stay" to be used to describe those without residence status. "The word 'illegal' itself gives a negative impression and promotes prejudice and discrimination against immigrants and refugees," said Sachi Takaya, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Tokyo and a member of the network's steering committee. Related coverage: FEATURE: Hate speech bringing unwanted focus on Japan's Kurdish community FEATURE: Firms urged to end "maternity harassment" of technical interns
