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ZWC_yamada 
On Friday, September 7, 2012, 29 undocumented immigrants from 13 families and 2 individuals, along with APFS, visited the House of Councillors Members' Office Building and handed over to Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice Nobuo Matsuno: ① 5,214 signatures requesting special permission to stay in Japan, and ② a petition prepared by the 29 individuals themselves.
The 29 individuals from 13 families represent the nationalities of seven countries: the Philippines, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, Bolivia, and Peru.
APFS reiterated the following four requests:
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1. Please grant residency to undocumented immigrant families with children in the fourth grade or higher of elementary school.
2. Do not separate parents and children or husbands and wives.
3. Please grant special permission to stay to family members of those who entered the country illegally.
4. Please grant residency to undocumented immigrants who have biological children in Japan.
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In response to APFS's requests, the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Justice expressed understanding of the significant impact on the education of children born in Japan who are illegally residing in the country, and the necessity of treating families as a unified entity without separation. Based on these requests, it was agreed that special permission for residence for 29 individuals from 13 families (2 individuals) would be considered.
In front of the House of Councillors Members' Office Building, those affected appealed for their right to reside in Japan. Among the children of those affected, one appealed, "I want to get a visa not just for my family, but for everyone here." APFS will continue to work in solidarity with undocumented immigrants to help them obtain special permission to stay in Japan. We ask for your continued support.
[Thank you for your support]
We are pleased to announce that we have successfully submitted the 5,214 signatures we have collected over time for the petition "Grant special permission to stay in Japan to family members residing in the country for long-term stays!" We would like to express our sincere gratitude once again to everyone who cooperated by signing the petition.