New guideline set for granting special permission for illegals to stay

Friday 10th July, 09:09 AM JST

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Badge213 at 06:52 PM JST - 10th July

She could learn the language if she moved? I know someone who was 14 and moved to another country, she learned it and speaks it pretty fluently now. So it's not mission impossible. Also the parents attitude, they would always answer the Japanese reporters, but never the Filipino reporters.

If not special permission probably will say "Stay in Japan until the Child reaches 18 or 20" and can support themselves (the child), then the visa (parents) is no longer valid once those conditions are met and send them packing.

My point, someone wants to come to Japan, then they can get their butt in line behind the rest of us here legally, and fill out real documents and real paperwork.

Yeah lets get rid of all immigration laws and visas, can you imagine Japan then?
rogerbentham at 08:14 PM JST - 10th July

go illegal aliens!
skipthesong at 08:27 PM JST - 10th July

If I read this correctly, they have to stay here 10 years? So before that time, and if caught, they could be deported? That's no overly compassionate if you ask me. Secondly, I don't like the sound of the word "illegal". Unlike in the US, who are demanding all sorts of benefits, those that are here are not being overly pushy and if they have kids, I'm willing to help them so long as I know they are trying to do their best and be productive to their lives and the lives of their children.

My point, someone wants to come to Japan, then they can get their butt in line behind the rest of us here legally, and fill out real documents and real paperwork." Hold on, it doesn't seem that simple. First of all, you need certain credentials, which many who opt to go and stay in a country illegally, which are hard to get. unless they have changed that in the past few years I've been here.
Badge213 at 08:41 PM JST - 10th July

I don't like the sound of the word "illegal"

Well lets see, they used other's people passport to deceive officials and entered the country under false pretenses, if that's not illegal then what is it?
Ah_so at 09:29 PM JST - 10th July

Good for Japan and some common sense.

On a list of crimes, illegal immigration is hardly a serious one. Perhaps on a par with speeding or littering.

Where illegal immigrants have led otherwise crime-free lives and supported themselves and added economically, what is the benefit of sending them home?

In small numbers, this is a victimless crime and deportation benefits no one. I was thus quite shocked by the savagery and mean-mindedness of the response of some to the case, as illustrated by Foxie.
kramiczzz at 09:57 PM JST - 10th July

tkoind2, Thank's for good and fair judgment.
Monoflow at 10:22 PM JST - 10th July

How many such cases happens and how many Illegals living in Japan?... Check out other countries in Europe or America, they have real trouble compare to Japan...
scap at 10:32 PM JST - 10th July

At first I felt sympathy for the the Filipino family, and thought the J. govt. was being very cruel. Thinking about it, though, overstaying a legitimate visa is one thing, but knowingly entering the country with false passports???? Doesn't the govt. have to draw the line somewhere?

The root of the problem is that this country does not welcome enough LEGAL immigrants; hence, people resort to all kinds of illegal schemes to get in.
BurakuminDes at 10:38 PM JST - 10th July

The lawmakers of Japan are coming to realise how important illegals are: salarymen need them every night when they go to soaplands and hostess bars!
Hotbox08 at 11:39 PM JST - 10th July

Japan has long depended upon cheap and often illegal workers to populate jobs that Japanese are unwilling to do.

This is not entirely a "Japan" problem. I see countries such as the U.S. and France facing the same exact problem concerning illegal immigrants. Living in a country where there is prosperity will inevitably encourage immigrants to migrate either legally or not to said country. It is an unfortunate consequence.
amerijap at 12:57 AM JST - 11th July

"special residence permission"

What does this suppose to mean? Does it mean that the foreign children educated at Japanese public school for a particular period will be granted a permanent resident status or a green card?
nigelboy at 01:59 AM JST - 11th July

While the parents are clearly to blame, the Japanese decision to allow the child to remain here was at least partially humanitarian (given the alternatives) and better than many of us expected.

Not really.

In 2008, Ministry of Justice approved nearly 8,500 appeal requests for special residence permission out of 12K. Most of those approved are long term overstayers who had already established a family here like the Calderons but did not enter the country using fake passports.

The reform calls for "guidelines" as opposed to the now "case by case" which in sense is a double edge sword in light of the fact that many of them may choose to stay under the radar until the 10 year period has elapsed. The positive side is that those with over 10 year stay will come forward instead of staying under the radar.
jigjapan at 02:31 AM JST - 11th July

that`s good news for us working here in japan...i really admired the justice system of this country...they really study and learn from present cases just what had happen to my country men. anyway honest and polite people living here...thanks for minding those cases...
Badge213 at 03:38 AM JST - 12th July

Isn't not paying your taxes for 10 years or more not illegal itself? Maybe have em pay 10 years of back taxes as well??
as_the_crow_flies at 11:55 AM JST - 15th July

What does this suppose to mean? Does it mean that the foreign children educated at Japanese public school for a particular period will be granted a permanent resident status or a green card?

It means that anyone given special permission is on probation, supposedly for a year, after which they usually get a regular work visa, or student visa. In practice, they will probably be kept dangling another five years, until being treated like regular visa holders.

Human rights lawyers have long denounced the arbitrary nature of decisions on each case. People in nearly identical situations get treated completely differently, depending on who, or which office sees the case, and arbitrary factors which no one outside the bureaucracy actually knows about. It's not that the rules are being relaxed - many in the Calderons situation have been allowed to stay, they were just unlucky, or the Immigration Office didn't like their attitude. There's just a move to respond to criticisms from groups working in the field and be more transparent.

As another poster pointed out, if they'd had any sense, they'd have done that a long time ago. If the rules were transparent and less arbitrary, a lot more people would come forward more quickly and Immigration could publish a load of numbers to show that they have reduced the number of illegal residents.

By the way, most people working illegally do have taxes docked from their pay. Whether the people in the middle actually pass on the money to the taxman is another question. If anything, there are loads of people who are subject to all sorts of cheating but can't do anything for fear of being deported. If they get special permission, they can maybe claim back ten years of overpayment, unpaid holidays and unpaid unemployment benefit.