DIET REVISES IMMIGRATION LAWS AMID PROTESTS FROM FOREIGN RESIDENTS

The Diet passed bills Wednesday to revise immigration laws in order to strengthen measures against foreigners who stay in Japan illegally, despite protests from non-Japanese residents that their views have not been fully heard by the government.

The bills passed through the House of Councillors with support from the ruling bloc and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan. The amendment will unify administrative work concerning foreigners, which is currently undertaken by both the central and local governments, and enable the Justice Ministry to solely execute tasks.

The bills, which have been discussed in parliament since April 24, will also abolish the alien registration card that local municipalities issue, and instead require the central government to issue a new residency card to foreigners who stay in Japan longer than three months.

The bills cleared the House of Representatives on June 19 after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner the New Komeito party and the DPJ agreed on modifications to them, such as deleting a clause that would have required permanent residents of Korean and Taiwanese descent to always carry a residency card.

Foreign residents and their supporters claim the amendments would tighten controls and increase the burdens on them.

Under the revised immigration laws, foreigners who fail to notify the government of a change in address within 14 days would be fined up to 200,000 yen, and their residency status could be revoked if they fail to report changes within 90 days.

Foreign spouses of Japanese or non-Japanese permanent residents could lose their residency status if they fail to ‘‘conduct activities normally carried out by spouses’’ for six months under the revised immigration laws, but victims of domestic violence would be immune to that condition.
source: japan today