Japanese government claims success in campaign against illegal immigration
The number of reported cases of foreigners overstaying their visas in Japan has nearly halved in the last 5 years. The government has claimed its airport fingerprint scanners played a major role:
The Immigration Bureau said it has stepped up its efforts, jointly with police, to crack down on those overstaying their visas — especially since 2004, when the government’s plan was put into effect.
The introduction of a biometric system has helped immigration officials stem the re-entry of those who have been deported, the bureau said. In the year since it was introduced in November 2007, 846 people have been refused entry on the basis of biometric verification.
By nationality, South Koreans topped the list of those staying longer than allowed as of Jan. 1 at around 24,000, followed 18,000 Chinese, 17,000 Filipinos, 6,000 Thais and 5,000 Taiwanese, according to the survey.
Meanwhile, the Yomiuri reports that the government wants to pass a new law that will allow greater control over the issue of alien registration cards:
The draft legislation to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law states that the justice minister will issue new residence cards to aliens staying in Japan for mid- to long-term periods of time.
The current alien registration certificates issued by municipal governments will be abolished, and foreigners will instead use the new cards as identification.
The draft bill also includes provisions to imprison or deport people who forge the envisaged cards.
This could mean that that the Immigration bureau will now handle registration and alterations of information on alien registration cards. Less visits to city hall, and more visits to the long lines at Immigration branch offices!
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