Born "Illegal" in Japan Hundreds of children in Japan, like Samwei and Miracle are unable to acquire any status of residence in Japan, the only country they've ever known. Born to undocumented foreign nationals, they face the fear of deportation and often the pain of long-term separation from a parent detained at an immigration facility. NHK World, 20 Jan 2021.
Pakistani files lawsuit seeking special permission to remain in Japan Explains the situation of Mohamad Sadaq, who came to Japan to seek asylum in 1988 and was arrested in Japan in 2007 on suspicion of overstaying his visa and detained at an immigration facility as he was preparing to marry his wife. Kyodo News, 2019.
Japan is young Kurd's only home, despite challenges of 'illegal resident' status This article tells the story of Ramazan, a young Kurdish man who came to Japan with his family of asylum seekers when he was 9. He talks about the difficulties he faced as a child growing up in this situation and now as an adult who is on provisional release, and doesn't have legal residence status and so cannot work. The article includes the views of Yasuzo Kitamura, a Chuo Law School professor on the situation of people like Ramazan who the government treats as illegal residents. Mainichi Shimbun, 6 Jul 2021.
Born in Japan, but ordered out Fida Khan, a gangly 14-year-old, told the court that immigration authorities should not deport him and his family merely because his foreign-born parents lacked proper visas when they came to Japan more than 20 years ago. During the past two decades, his Pakistani father and Filipino mother have held steady jobs, raised children, paid taxes and have never been in trouble with the law. Washington Post, 17 Jan, 2010.
Japan Needs to Reform its “Black Box” Approach to Immigration Law Former immigration official Kinoshita Yōichi argues that Japan’s ambiguous immigration laws allow officials to arbitrarily decide which foreign nationals without legal status are put into detention and which get permission to stay. He explains what happens when someone without a visa is arrested in Japan and argues for changes in the current system. nippon.com, 2021. Japanese version here: 元入国審査官・木下洋一：現場職員も疲弊する入管行政の “ブラックボックス” 解消が急務
Noriko Calderon - A Filipino girl born in Japan whose parents were deported because they were undocumented migrants
Girl chooses Japan over parents "A teenager in Japan whose parents are being deported to the Philippines has decided to stay in Tokyo with her aunt. After the family lost a three-year battle to remain in Japan, Noriko Calderon, 13, had to choose whether to stay in Japan or go with her parents." BBC News, 14 April 2009.
Schoolgirl told to choose: Country or parents Watch an interview with Noriko and her parents as they pack in preparation for the parents' deportation back to the Philippines. CNN, 13 April, 2009.
Calderon resumes classes as parents prep for deportation " Filipino girl whose parents face deportation Monday started her second year at a local junior high school Wednesday prior to her parents’ departure for the Philippines." Japan Times, 9 Apr, 2009.
The sad story of Noriko Calderon: Some painful lessons in illegal migration WASHINGTON D.C., United States?There are many reasons why Filipinos and citizens of other economically struggling countries migrate to the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, just to name a few. These immigrants, whether legal or illegal, believe that greener pastures await them in those countries. Global Nation, 15, Apr, 2009.
Wishma Sandamali - Sri Lankan women who visa died in detention in Nagoya after overstaying her visa
A Sri Lankan's tragic death in Japan casts a harsh spotlight on controversial refugee system A Sri Lankan woman fled to the authorities in Japan in August last year hoping to escape from domestic violence, only to end up dying in detention in Nagoya last month. Straits Times, 2021.
Her dream to teach English in Japan ended with a lesson for the country CNN, 2021
Security footage shows shocking treatment of Sri Lankan who died in Nagoya detention cell, The Mainichi, 27 Feb 2023
An excerpt from the 1998 documentary movie "Overstay" by Ann Kaneko. "Overstay" (ôbâsutei – オーバーステイ) shows the life and work place of undocumented foreign workers and so called "illegal immigrants" in Japan.
Why 'Undocumented' or 'Irregular'? A pdf file from the United High Commisssioner for Refugees that explains whey it is preferable to refer to 'undocumented' or 'irregular' migrants not 'illegal' migrants. 2018
Why Words Matter A discussion of why it is problematic to refer to migrants as 'illegal'. PICUM, No date
Special Permission for Residence A short explanation of the Special Permission for Residence system which can be used to give undocumented foreigners a visa to stay in Japan, as well as why some foreigner workers in Japan are undocumented and what kind of people they are. From Asian People's Friendship Society, an organisation providing support and counselling for foreigners, especially undocumented migrants, in Japan.
Scant Hope for Japan’s “Illegals” Under Proposed Reforms Immigration scholar and advocate Suzuki Eriko of Kokushikan University explains criticisms of the Japanese government’s proposed refugee immigration law reform, first introduced in 2021 and re-introduced in 2023, which seek to make it easier to deport foreign nationals, including refugees, who have no residence rights. She considers problems with using detention for these people, the situation of those issued with deportation orders, the way that provisional release works, and the history of 'illegal' migrants in Japan who were accepted as migrant workers through the 'back door' by the government until the 1990s because they were needed economically but treated more strictly after that. It also explains the story of Miracle, a 17-year-old Ghanaian, who has lived in Japan all her life, but still has no legal residency status. nippon.com, 2021. Japanese version here: 入管難民法「改悪」から問い直す外国人労働者の受け入れと排除
Hard Work, Furtive Living: Illegal Immigrants in Japan by Sharon Noguchi. Japan relies on illegal workers who are employed in low-wage jobs and unprotected from exploitation. Immigrants from China, Latin America and South Asia seek jobs with employers willing to risk legal punishments in order to hire workers at lower wages. Illegal workers are willing to accept bottom-rung pay, risking arrest and finding it difficult to claim all the wages they are owed. YaleGlobal, 2 March 2006.
Foreigners without residency status fear for their lives Thousands of undocumented foreigners in Japan have no access to public healthcare, even for life-threatening conditions. NHK World, 2022.
Illegal foreigners released due to complications from pandemic " The novel coronavirus pandemic has forced immigration authorities to temporarily release from detention illegal foreigners who are scheduled for deportation, but many of the former detainees are unhappy about the situation." The article looks at the difficulties for those who have been released, including not being able to work and problems with paying for health care. Asahi Shimbun, 28 Sep 2020.
Kawaguchi city to vaccinate unregistered foreigners Unregistered foreign nationals who live in this increasingly multicultural city will be eligible for vaccinations against COVID-19, the municipal government. Asahi Shimbun, 2021.
Calls to Reform Japan's Immigration System This article has information on conditions in detention as well as about provisional release (which is a kind of alternative to detention) and an organisation calling for more provisional release and better conditions for it. NHK News, 30 Aug 2016.
Visa Overstayers Seek Special Permission for Residence This article is about a campaign by 35 undocumented migrants from eight counties working together with the Asian People Friendship Society to be given special permission to remain in Japan. Tokyo Weekender, 2014/17.
Foreign detainees let go temporarily amid pandemic have nowhere to go This article which tells the story of a Nepalese asylum seeker in Nagasaki describes the programme for releasing asylum seekers from detention into provisional release during the pandemic and reports on the very difficult conditions that asylum seekers on provisional release face. Japan Times, 25 Dec 2020.
Bill puts children of undocumented foreigners on uncertain path The article looks at the situation of a 15 year old Kurdish born in Kawaguchi City whose asylum seeker parents do not have residence status, are on provisional relase and may face deportation if they lose their next application for asylum. It also looks at arguments about the proposed new Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law which would make deportation of families like these easier. Asahi Shimbun, 2023.
Banned from working, asylum seekers are building Japan's roads and sewers "Even as authorities insist they leave, Kurdish migrants are working without permits on government projects. Japan’s strict immigration rules combined with a shrinking work population has spawned a black market in labor." Reuters Investigates, 8 August 2016.
Subaru’s secret: Marginalized foreign workers power a Japanese export boom This article looks at the use of foreign migrant workers, who get paid much less than Japanese workers, by companies supplying the car-maker Subaru in Ota City, Gunma. Many of these foreign workers are asylum seekers on provisional release from immigration detention. The article looks at these workers from paragraph 16 onwards, explaining their working conditions, harsh treatment by employers and health problems. Reuters, 28 July 2015
The Desperation of Japan’s Detained Asylum Seekers: A look back at the wave of hunger strikes among detained asylum seekers in Japan last year. This article tells the stories of some of the asylum seekers in Ushiku Detention center who stopped eating and went on hunger strike in 2019 to protest against their situation, explaining the desperation of their situation. It describes how the government has released some detainees into provisional release who became unwell because of their hunger strikes, but has then returned them to detention after a few weeks. It also explains, at the end of the “Here There Is No Future” section, that detention is used for asylum seekers whose applications are rejected to try to get them to agree to be deported to the country they escaped from, which the asylum seekers say is impossible because it is too dangerous for them. The Diplomat, 18 Sep 2020.
Japan's 'hidden darkness' An article about the conditions in detention and on provisional release for foreigners who have lost their rights of residence, many of them because they have and their applications for asylum in japan rejected. DW, 2019.
Provisional Release Association in Japan A group of former detainees, supporting both both asylum seekers and migrant worker visa over-stayers who are detained: "We are campaigning for a proper resident status in order to live a secure life in Japan. Also, what we fear the most now is re-detention. We strongly demand the Immigration Control not to violate our human rights by re-detaining us."
Asian People's Friendship Society An organisation providing support and counseling for foreigners, especially undocumented migrants (migrants without a correct visa), in Japan.
Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) This is an organization that helps refugees to live in Japan safely and independently.
International Social Service Japan "We visit detention facilities for counselling and health observations of detained asylum seekers. During the visit, we also provide necessary information regarding asylum procedures and social services available after getting provisional release (“Karihomen”). We visit Tokyo’s Immigration Bureau (Shinagawa), Higashi Nihon Immigration Center (Ushiku), Narita airport, and other regional immigration bureaus. "
レインボー・アクション難民支援プロジェクト/Rainbow Action Refugee Support Project provides support for sexual minority refugees including visits to them in detention.
牛久の会（牛久入管収容所問題を考える会） BLOG It is an organization which helps detainees in Ushiku detention center.
CLOVER (Care & LOVE for Refugees) ～難民と共に歩むユース団体～ is an organization in Tsukuba Uni which supports detainees.