We conducted "negotiations with the Ministry of Justice" to request special permission to stay in Japan for undocumented immigrants on provisional release.

From August 2015 to January 2016, APFS undertook the "100-Day Action to Nurture Children's Dreams," aiming to create a society where the dreams of all children, including those in undocumented immigration, can come true.
During the 100-day protests, numerous media outlets covered the issue, and a petition campaign also gained momentum. As a result, we were able to raise awareness among society about the problems faced by children in undocumented immigration.
On January 17, 2016 (Sunday), we held a concluding discussion forum for our 100-day action. At that forum, it was decided that we would hold negotiations with the Ministry of Justice to request special permission to stay in Japan within this fiscal year.

It's not just children who are in an undocumented state of residence and unable to envision a future; adults are too. We called on adults to participate in the request to the Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, March 1st. This is because adults also have their own reasons for needing to reside in Japan, such as being married to a Japanese national (permanent resident) or having spent more than half of their lives in Japan.

APFS requested the following three points, stating that "special permission to stay in Japan should be granted as soon as possible to undocumented immigrants on provisional release."
(1) Allow children who are illegally residing in Japan to stay in Japan together with their parents.
(2) Recognize that married couples can form a family in Japan.
(3) Grant special permission to stay in Japan more flexibly to asylum seekers.

At the negotiations with the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Toyotaka Kawabata, Assistant Officer of the Immigration Bureau's Adjudication Division, Ms. Narumi Yokokawa, and Section Chief Mr. Makoto Harada attended. From APFS, three people attended: Representative Director Kato, Vice Representative Director Yoshida, and Director Yoshinari.
Many undocumented immigrants on provisional release have filed appeals for retrial (requesting a re-examination due to changes in circumstances after the issuance of a deportation order). Since 2011, it has been difficult to obtain residency through appeals for retrial, but we have confirmed Mr. Yokokawa's statement that "the existence of appeals for retrial is acknowledged."
Furthermore, we were able to confirm that the approximately 150 postcards supporting children, which were part of the 100-day action, and the endorsements of 22 researchers to the "Resolution for the 100-Day Action to Nurture Children's Dreams," have indeed been received by the Ministry of Justice and are being considered.

APFS pointed out that the Immigration Bureau may also be responsible for the fact that undocumented immigrants have remained on provisional release for so many years.
He also stated, "There are families who have been waiting for a long time, even though there appears to be no difference in the 'Guidelines for Special Permission to Stay' between cases where special permission to stay was obtained through appeals for retrial before 2010 and other cases. Even though it is difficult to envision a future, some children are attending vocational schools with the aim of becoming certified care workers. Illegal immigrants are individuals who can contribute to Japanese society. We hope that they will be treated with tolerance and given relief."

Furthermore, a list was submitted detailing 20 cases involving 37 undocumented immigrants seeking special permission to stay in Japan, in conjunction with APFS. Mr. Kawabata stated that they would "re-examine the cases listed on the list." Without raising our voices, progress will be slow. In terms of raising awareness of the existence of these cases, the negotiations with the Ministry of Justice can be said to have been successful.

I also inquired about special permission to stay in Japan for asylum seekers. I confirmed that even if someone is not recognized as a refugee, they may be granted special permission if they have humanitarian reasons that are similar to refugee status, or if they fall under the "positive factors" of the "Guidelines for Special Permission to Stay in Japan." In addition, I received the response that "at the time of appeal (second stage of review), special permission to stay is rarely reviewed. At the time of the asylum application (first stage), if there are any parts that fall under the "Guidelines for Special Permission to Stay in Japan," please be sure to mention them." I was able to grasp the guidelines on how to make my case.

While negotiations with the Ministry of Justice were underway, undocumented immigrants continued to make their appeals in front of the Ministry, despite the increasing cold.
One child said, "Even young children understand that family is important. I don't think it's possible for children to stay here alone or parents alone. Please listen to our request."
Adults also took to the microphone to express their desire to raise their children in Japan and to continue living in Japan with their spouses.

APFS will continue its activities, summarizing the achievements and challenges of the series of actions taken since the 100-day campaign, with the aim of obtaining special permission to stay in Japan. We appreciate your continued support.