By KAZUMICHI KUBOTA/ Staff Writer
June 9, 2023 at 18:05 JST
Bereaved family members hold up a picture of Sri Lankan detainee Wishma Sandamali, who died in an immigration facility, as they watch the Upper House plenary session on June 9 that passed a revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law. (Wataru Sekita)
The Upper House on June 9 passed into law a revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law designed to prevent prolonged detentions but which critics decry could result in deporting refugee applicants to face persecution.
Immigration authorities can deport those seeking refugee status after two rejections of their applications unless there is “good reason.”
The revised law is expected to become effective within a year after promulgation.
Penal provisions will be imposed on those who resist deportation by becoming violent on a scheduled flight home. In addition to a maximum one-year prison sentence, those found guilty of such violations would be swiftly deported.
Some visa overstayers will be allowed to live apart from detention facilities until deportation if they are monitored by officially designated supervisors, such as their supporters and relatives.
Under another system, foreign nationals who fled from a conflict such as Ukraine would be granted similar protection afforded to refugees.
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