World Immigration News

Advocacy wins for undocumented children don’t extend to their parents

Release Date: 2026-02-11
Media: The Korea Times
Summary: A Nigerian woman who spent nearly two decades in South Korea raising five children as a single mother now faces deportation because her youngest child has reached adulthood. Under current Korean policy, undocumented migrant parents are allowed to remain only while their children are minors. Once the children turn 19 or graduate from high school, the parents must leave or face deportation.

Human rights groups have filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, calling for changes to the Immigration Act, which currently provides no specific residency protections for migrant families. Although South Korea introduced policies to grant conditional legal status to undocumented children raised in the country, parents are still required to leave once the child becomes an adult.

Advocates argue that the policy separates families and places unrealistic expectations on young adults, many of whom struggle to support themselves without parental help. They also warn that parents who have lived in Korea for decades may face severe hardship if forced to return to their home countries. Human rights groups are urging reforms to better protect family unity.
Tags: Korea

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