Photo/Illutration Justice Minister Ken Saito answers a question in the Diet on April 19 about a bill to revise the immigration law at the Lower House Committee on Judicial Affairs. (Koichi Ueda)

The ruling coalition said it will consider setting up a third-party organization to screen applications for refugee status to sidestep criticism it is rushing to deport foreign nationals living in Japan illegally.

It presented the proposal at a meeting with opposition parties on April 25. However, the revision bill on immigration control would still allow the authorities to deport asylum seekers while their applications are being processed, which the opposition camp is unlikely to stomach.

The government contends that its proposed revisions to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law are necessary because many foreign nationals are abusing the current system on seeking refugee status.

Japan currently puts deportation orders on hold for foreign nationals who overstayed their visas and refuse to return to their home country if they have applied for refugee status.

The proposed revision would allow the authorities to deport them after two rejected applications.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito have been locked in talks on the issue with the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party). The CDP called for changes in the proposed bill.

To appease the CDP, the new proposal includes an additional clause stating that the establishment of a third-party organization to screen applications for refugee status will be “considered.”

The government initially proposed allowing asylum seekers to stay under the supervision of designated “custodians” during the process leading to deportation to eliminate prolonged detention at immigration facilities.

The issue is very much in the public spotlight after a spate of deaths at detention centers. Some detainees end up spending years in detention for overstaying their visas.

Under the proposed bill, immigration officers will review whether to transfer asylum seekers to designated supervision every three months.

The head of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan can review the decision when officers decide to continue with detention.

The revised proposal states that the justice minister will oversee such decisions. The change aims to prevent decisions from being made solely within the agency.

A supplementary resolution would grant the same level of protection as refugees to foreign nationals who have fled from conflicts.

The resolution states that Japan will “ensure the protection of those who are truly in need of protection, such as those who would be tortured (if they return home).”

An amendment has already been added to specify that the “interests of a child” shall be taken into consideration when determining “special permission to stay in Japan.”

Supporters of those pushing for refugee status in Japan said “people who are in danger of persecution will be deported” if the government’s initial proposal remains unchanged.

They cited Japan’s low rate of refugee-status recognition--around 1 percent--which is widely blamed on a lack of proper screening.

The ruling coalition hopes to vote on the new bill at the Lower House Committee on Judicial Affairs as early as April 26.

However, the opposition to the bill remains among CDP members, and it is unclear whether they will support the bill.

Whether the revision will be reflected in the final bill remains unknown.

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