Draft bill to allow deportees to stay with family

NHK -- Feb 19

The Japanese government plans to revise the immigration law to allow some foreigners who have received deportation orders to stay with family members until they leave the country.

The government decided on a draft revision on Friday to deal with the increasing number of foreigners who are detained at government facilities after refusing deportation.

The draft would allow deportees to stay with family members or supporters until they leave the country if they meet certain conditions, including not being considered a flight risk.

The draft also includes a provision that could shorten the duration of the reentry ban for deportees from five years, in principle, to one, if they return home at their own expense.

The government plans to submit the draft revision to the current Diet session.