See also:
New link added 20 Sep: 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.
Born "Illegal" in Japan Hundreds of children in Japan are living in a kind of limbo, unable to acquire any status of residence in 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.
Laws Concerning Children of Undocumented Migrants: Japan This page gives some general information about foreigners in Japan who don't have visas as well as explaining the situation fo children born in Japan to foreign parents who don't have valid visas, looking at two examples of such children. US library of Congress, 31 Dec 2020.
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.
Japan’s masochistic approach to immigration More than half the women in the Tokyo Detention center are non-Japanese being held for overstaying their visas.This article looks at the situation of undocumented workers (workers without visas in Japan) and their treatment in detention centres. Japan Times, 13 Jun 2015.
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.
llegal immigrants could lose basic social services under new resident system The 60-year-old alien registration system became obsolete on July 9, replaced by new rules and regulations under a revised law intended to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in Japan. Asahi Shimbun, 9 Jul 2012.
Officials faulted in death of Ghanaian: Court rules immigration used 'Illegal' force on deportee In a landmark verdict, the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday ruled that immigration officials were responsible for the death of Abubakar Awudu Suraj, a Ghanaian man who had overstayed his via they were forcibly deporting in 2010. Japan Times, March 19, 2014.
Justice stalled in brutal death of deportee: Autopsy suggests immigration officers used excessive force in restraining Ghanaian Abubakar Awudu Suraj had been in Japan for over two decades when immigration authorities detained him in May 2009. The Ghanaian was told in Yokohama of his deportation to Ghana at 9:15 a.m. on March 22 last year. Six hours later he was dead, allegedly after being excessively restrained by guards. The Japan Times.
Asian People's Friendship Society An organisation providing support and counselling for foreigners, especially undocumented migrants, in Japan. They are campaigning on the case of Abubaker Awudu Suraj. Includes a discussion of the situation of undocumented foreigners and the Special Permission for Residence Visa that can be given to undocumented foreigners to give them the legal right to stay in Japan
Foreign overstayers protest for special residency permits in Tokyo This short article reports on "a campaign to inform the Japanese of the 67,000 visa overstayers in the country and how much they have already been integrated into society." 34 foreigners, many who have lived in Japan for decades and have families here, are asking the government not to deport them." Japan Daily Press, 20 Nov, 2012.
Visa overstayers rally to maintain privileges after immigration revision Another report on calls by undocumented workers some of whom have lived longer in Japan than in the countries they came from, to be given visas. Japan Times, 27 May 2012.
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.
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.
Kapatiran is a Filipino church-based NGO that provides support services for migrants including visits to detention centers.
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."