Japan Immigration News

Tokyo takes a hard line on immigration with record deportations in 2025

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Release Date: 2026-04-09
Media: AsiaNews
Summary: Japan’s stricter immigration policies, particularly the “Zero Illegal Foreign Residents Plan,” are increasing deportations and raising concerns among foreign residents and asylum seekers.

In 2025, deportations rose sharply to 318 cases, including individuals with multiple asylum applications. Human rights groups warn that these measures are creating fear and insecurity, even among long-term residents and well-integrated individuals, with reports of returned migrants facing persecution.

Despite more asylum applications, refugee recognition remains very low (187 approvals), with many claims rejected—even from conflict regions such as Myanmar. At the same time, processing times have been significantly reduced to speed up decisions and limit provisional stays.

The policy reflects growing public concern and tougher political stances on immigration, partly linked to economic pressures. However, Japan’s foreign population continues to grow, surpassing 4 million, highlighting the ongoing tension between stricter enforcement and labor shortages.
Tags: Immigration　Policy

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