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2023 August 2 - 8 TOP3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP Nihi comments on gov’t policy to grant Japan-born foreign minors special permission to stay in Japan

Justice Minister Saito Ken on August 4 at a press conference announced his decision that foreign minors born and raised in Japan without formal residency status will obtain special permission to stay in Japan if they meet certain requirements such as their parents not having felony criminal records.

This policy will cover at least 70% of about 200 children currently without residency status.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Nihi Sohei, commenting on the Justice Minister’s decision, pointed out that among overstaying foreign nationals who refuse to obey deportation orders (4,233, as of the end of 2022), many cannot return to their home countries for such reasons as having a fear of persecution, and that some settle down in Japan after getting married to Japanese or foreign permanent residents; and some were born and raised in Japan.

Stating that efforts made by these foreigners and their supporters in collaboration with opposition parties’ Diet efforts have influenced the Justice Minister’s decision, Nihi appealed for the need to prevent children from being separated from their families.

Nihi said that the deportation of adult asylum-seekers, who should be protected as refugees, is unacceptable. He expressed his determination to work hard to strengthen the movement aiming to change the current discriminatory refugee policy to one under which refugee status applicants will be protected and allowed to live in Japan.