The number of immigration law violators deported rose by more than 65% in 2023, the year after Japan lifted border restrictions due to COVID-19, data from the Immigration Services Agency showed on Friday.
The number of deportees increased from 4,795 in 2022 to 8,024. Meanwhile, 18,198 aliens were subject to deportation proceedings in 2023, almost double the 10,300 the year before.
Deportation proceedings have two outcomes.
In principle, overstayers and other violators of immigration law are subject to deportation and are held until their departure, subject to certain conditions. They are not allowed to re-enter Japan for five years.
Those who voluntarily report to immigration authorities with the intention of leaving Japan are given less stringent departure orders, meaning they can avoid being detained before being deported. They are allowed to return after a year.
Of the 18,198 people undergoing deportation proceedings, 9,197 were given the less strict departure orders.
Of those deported at the end of 2023, 2,929 were granted provisional release based on humanitarian and other considerations.
Foreign nationals subjected to the procedure came from 95 countries and regions, with Vietnam occupying the largest share with 38.2%, or 6,953 people, followed by Thailand (3,171) and China (2,059).
By type of violation, the majority were overstayers (16,949), while 340 people entered or entered the country illegally and 175 engaged in activities not explicitly permitted by their visas, the agency said.
It was found that 12,384 persons were engaged in illegal work, representing 68.1% of the total.
By region, Kanto had the highest number and proportion of illegal workers: 8,983 and 72.5%. Chubu, which includes the manufacturing center of Aichi Prefecture, came in next with 1,662, or 13.4% of all illegal workers. Meanwhile, Ibaraki Prefecture had the highest number for a prefecture with 2,748.
