We held negotiations with the Ministry of Justice to request special permission to stay in Japan.

On December 15, 2011 (Thursday), APFS held negotiations with the Ministry of Justice to request special permission to stay in Japan for 35 undocumented foreign nationals from 15 families and 2 individuals. These negotiations were made possible with the participation of House of Representatives member Ryoichi Hattori.

A key characteristic of the 15 families and 2 individuals totaling 35 people is the wide range of their attributes. These 15 families and 2 individuals can be categorized into five types: ① families seeking residency, ② parents seeking residency status, ③ spouses seeking residency status, ④ children seeking residency status, and ⑤ single individuals. Based on these characteristics, we made the following four requests to the Ministry of Justice.
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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 residency to undocumented immigrants who have biological children in Japan.
4. Please grant special permission to stay to family members of those who entered the country illegally.
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This year, APFS has so far granted special permission to stay to 8 people from 2 families. The oldest children in these families are in the second and first years of junior high school, respectively. On the other hand, among the 35 children from 2 individuals across 15 families, many are in the upper grades of elementary school, but these families have not yet been granted special permission to stay. We explained that even children in the upper grades of elementary school could have a significant impact on their development if they were deported to their home country, citing examples of cases where children in the upper grades of elementary school were actually deported. We emphasized that special permission to stay should be granted to irregular immigrant families with children in the fourth grade or higher of elementary school. We also stated that in cases where a spouse is seeking special permission to stay, we would like to see a more flexible approach based on the "positive factors to be given special consideration."

Mr. Kuniaki Ishioka, Director of the Immigration Bureau's Adjudication Division at the Ministry of Justice, used phrases such as "warmly," "with consideration for humanitarian aspects," and "fair and impartial review" when examining applications for special permission to stay. These phrases were not explicitly mentioned during previous negotiations. APFS strongly urges that special permission to stay be implemented in accordance with these words.

Furthermore, 35 individuals from 15 families and 2 individuals, along with their supporters, gathered in front of the Ministry of Justice to appeal to the public about why they are seeking residency. From young elementary school children to single individuals, each person appealed to the Ministry of Justice in their own words. Starting with these negotiations with the Ministry of Justice, APFS will accelerate its movement to seek special residency permits for these 35 individuals from 15 families and 2 individuals. We ask for your cooperation and support.

■□Request for Donations□■
Funding is needed to continue supporting the movement to obtain special residence permits for undocumented foreign residents. APFS's activities are supported by your donations. Please obtain a payment slip at the post office and make your donation to the account listed below.

Financial Institution Name: Japan Post Bank
Subscriber name APFS
Account number 00130-6-485104

Each and every one of your contributions will pave the way for undocumented foreign residents to gain a place in Japan. We humbly ask for your support.