IMMIGRANTS IN JAPAN

Ethic issues that faced foreign immigrants in Japan

Ethic issues that faced foreign immigrants in Japan

Introduction to Japanese Immigration Policy

"Internationalization in compliance with rules" has been the Immigration Bureau's motto since the 1980s. It is a straightforward expression of the objective of immigration control, which is to appropriately treat foreigners who enter and stay in Japan for various purposes in accordance with the laws and regulations established under the government's immigration policy, and to promote international exchange and harmonious coexistence among Japanese nationals and foreigners.

The needs of the people of Japan and foreigners with respect to Japan's immigration control services may be categorized into two types(Huddle et al., 2008). First, there is a need for smooth and smart immigration control with simple, efficient, and quick procedures for actively accepting foreigners who are compatible with the national and public interest of Japan, in order to promote international exchanges and develop the economy and society, and for international humanitarianism as well(James, 2009).

The other need is for secure and strict immigration control to protect Japan from terrorism and crimes and to ensure a secure and safe society without foreign offenders, including prompt deportation of foreigners who stay illegally in the country. To achieve the former, we need to improve administrative services such as examination procedures, while to achieve the latter, we must reinforce border control to crack down on those considered a security threat and prevent them from entering the country(Warren, 2005).

Although these two requirements for immigration control may appear to conflict with each other, both must be fulfilled diligently. The Immigration Bureau cannot carry out its mission without addressing both of them. Therefore, it is important for us to reform the processes and systems using the latest technology while increasing our manpower and improving our skills.

Reinforcement of Administrative Infrastructure

Today, the work of Japan's immigration control authority faces major challenges due to changing socioeconomic conditions such as employment, social welfare policies, and public security issues.

At immigration offices around the country, 3,714 officers are engaged in various services related to the approval and rejection of applications, as well as the prosecution and deportation of offenders in the three main phases of immigration control, namely entry examination, status of residence examination, and deportation procedures.

Manpower, budget, detention facilities, and information systems make up the four types of administrative resources for the daily operation of immigration control services. Since the late 1980s when problems involving acceptance of foreign workers and illegal working began to emerge, manpower has doubled, the budget has increased 3.8 times, and the capacity of detention facilities has increased 6.6 times(John, 2007). Information systems were introduced in the 1970s and have become indispensable today for most immigration control services.

Policy measures and laws and regulations concerning the acceptance of foreigners and the immigration control system have been reviewed and revised over the years. In particular, the status of residence system was revised in 1990 to clarify the scope of acceptance and criteria for examining foreigners wishing to stay in ...