Japan Immigration News

Facing deportation despite Japan upbringing, kids falling through immigration system gaps

Release Date: 2025-02-15
Media: The Mainichi
Summary: Many children of foreign nationality, born or raised in Japan, face potential deportation due to their parents’ immigration status. In August 2023, the Japanese government introduced a special residency measure to allow such children to stay if they met certain conditions, including being born in Japan, attending Japanese schools, and having deportation orders issued against them. Their parents could also receive residency if they had no serious criminal history.

Of approximately 260 eligible children, 212 were granted special residency. However, some families were excluded due to technicalities. A 17-year-old Kurdish student and his family were denied because his younger sister had only received a detention order, not a deportation order. Similarly, a Middle Eastern family who arrived in Japan when their daughter was an infant was also excluded.

Japan's strict refugee policies and low recognition rates leave many in legal limbo. While the government aimed to balance relief with immigration control, some believe the scope should have been broader. A recent revision in June 2024 allows those with detention orders to apply for residency, offering hope to some excluded families. However, many children still face uncertainty and anxiety about their futures in a country they consider home.
Tags: Special Permission to Stay

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