Japan – June 2023

Parliament on 6 June passed a bill to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, allowing the government to deport asylum seekers who apply for refugee status more than twice. The bill faced heavy criticism from opposition lawmakers, human rights experts, and civil society organizations, claiming that the new legislation enables the government to repatriate those who are at risk of persecution in their home countries. Critics note that the new bill creates unnecessary obstacles for asylum seekers in what are already considered to be stringent regulations for granting refugee status.

Sources: Japan Times, Kyodo News, Human Rights Watch, Nikkei Asia