Japan Immigration News

(The Mainichi)Japan to stop notifying lawyers of deportations in advance

Release Date: 2026-01-30
Media: The Mainichi
Summary: Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has announced that it will abolish the “lawyer notification system” related to the deportation of foreign nationals, effective February 1. Under this system, attorneys representing individuals facing deportation were informed of the planned timing of deportation about two months in advance.

The system was introduced in September 2010 through an agreement between the former Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), with the aim of enabling lawyers to make informed decisions about legal actions on behalf of their clients.

The ISA argues that the system has caused problems in recent years, claiming that some lawyers opposed to deportations shared deportation schedules on social media, which led to protest activities and cases where foreign nationals allegedly fled after receiving notice.

In response, JFBA President Reiko Fuchigami strongly criticized the decision, stating that the lawyer notification system is “an extremely important mechanism for effectively guaranteeing the right to a trial,” and warning that its abolition undermines access to judicial remedies.
Tags: Immigration Policy

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