News: Japan to fingerprint foreigners under proposed immigration bill

[amy_neri]

Konnichiwa, Any thoughts on this news?

Japan to fingerprint foreigners under proposed immigration bill

12:53pm Wednesday, February 8
Japan plans to fingerprint foreigners aged 16 or over when they enter the country as an antiterrorism measure, details of a revised immigration bill obtained by the Mainichi have shown.
In addition, people that the justice minister deems likely to "commit crimes aimed at threatening the public" will be deported under new regulations, the revised bill on immigration and refugee recognition says.
The bill, which the government plans to submit to the Diet in the near future, does not require fingerprinting for some foreigners, including special long-term Korean residents, those aged under 16, those who come to Japan for diplomatic or public activities, and guests invited by Japan.
In addition to fingerprinting, the Ministry of Justice is also considering photographing visitors. Fingerprints and other data will be stored on computers, and compared with those of people who have been deported in the past. Visitors posing as others will be prevented from re-entering the country. If the data matches that held by law enforcement authorities, it will also be used in criminal investigations.
The bill gives authorities the power to deport those considered likely to commit terrorismt-related crimes such as murder, hijackings or bombings, thereby posing a threat to ordinary residents or the nation. In addition, lists of passengers entering Japan on airlines or vessels will need to be presented in advance.
Fingerprinting at immigration checkpoints has been introduced in the United States, but the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and other organizations are opposed to the same measures being introduced in Japan, and the bill is likely to stir controversy.
"Fingerprinting people violates the respect for individuals under the Constitution as well as stipulations on freedom of action banning treatment that is discreditable," a federation official said.
Federation officials say that in addition to violating privacy, the measure also hinders the formation of a society in which Japanese can live together with foreigners. (Mainichi)

[Raiden]

In a post 9-11 world, I have no problem with that policy being implemented. It is meant to track down visitors with evil intentions that is yet to be known from other nations or raise red flags when possible terrorists are about to enter the country. The data from fingerprinting and taking pictures could be vital for intelligence authorities to stop terrorists before they could inflict havoc.

I wouldn't mind it at all if my fingerprints and photos are taken, because I have nothing to hide. In fact, it will make me feel safer to visit Japan.

[infinite_trial]

i think a similar thing has been proposed to PI before. ang mag ooppose lang dito tiyak ay yung mga taong feeling bina-violate ang kanilang rights.

i really don't mind havin em keep mah fingerprints and photos. like raiden said its a safety precaution. i hope this goes for all countries. lalo na satin na puntirya madalas ng mga terrorists. though i think dapat lahat kunan ng fingerprint, hindi lang foreigners. well, sabagay hitech naman ang japan. pero sa ibang bansa di ba? records are only kept in an old-school fashion. hirap pa nga sila mag migrate ng data sa mahal ng costs.

[Dax]

Pano kaya yung mga nandito na dati? If the bill becomes a law, would we, long-term residents be also fingerprinted? :confused: Tsaka pano kaya kung aalis ka lang ng Japan temporarily (i.e. uwi sa Pinas para mag-bakasyon)? I guess walang ligtasan. :confused:

I don't mind being fingerprinted though. Dati ang Alien Card may fingerprint pa nga hininto lang dahil may mga foreigners' rights groups na pinaglaban ito sa korte. Ang ayoko ay ang hassle baka mamiss ko ang flight ko dahil dyan. :D

[v_wrangler]

"...special permanent residents are to be excluded from the new rules."

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/01/11/japan_fingerprinting _plans_spark_opposit ion/

[Dax]

I should have elaborated. What I meant was long-term residents without Permanent Residency visas, like myself. 11 years na ako dito pero working for 3 years only, mag-aapply pa lang ng PR this year. :(

[v_wrangler]

I should have elaborated. What I meant was long-term residents without Permanent Residency visas, like myself. 11 years na ako dito pero working for 3 years only, mag-aapply pa lang ng PR this year. :(

Your post was loud and clear - I tried to search for the actual bill but its all I found. My guess is that - those coming via re-entry permits will be excluded. But lets wait for the actual publication of the law... And goodluck with the application.

[fortminor]

I think there's no problem if they take us fingerprint or photos. Its a fast process like the like when you enter America.Kaya lang,masipag kaya ang immigration or police officer na manghuli ng mga law violators?

[pointblank]

Your post was loud and clear - I tried to search for the actual bill but its all I found. My guess is that - those coming via re-entry permits will be excluded. But lets wait for the actual publication of the law... And goodluck with the application.


I read in a previous press release somewhere that those holding permanent residency visas (eijuuken) will be exempted. Long-term residents without the permanent residency visa are not exempted.

The thinking behind this is that those who have permanent residency visas have already passed through a rigorous screening process which should ideally have filtered them out from being potential terrorists. Ordinary long term residents, on the other hand, are able to simply renew their visas as long as they have the minimum status required - ergo, a student from a "suspect" country could just enroll in a Japanese school and get a visa and then renew it as long as he stays enrolled.


Hello fortminor,

Yes! MASIPAG ang mga immigration officers dito ... lalo na kung ang hawak ng foreigner ay passport from a "problematic" country. Sad to say, kasali tayo diyan sa maraming violators ng immigration law. :O

[amy_neri]

I totally agree with what the others have been saying. If this idea was constructed solely for safety reasons, I have no objection whatsoever and don't mind going through the whole process every time I arrive here. I just hope that if ever they decide to push through with this plan, they would provide proper information dissemination in order for the public to realize its advantages. And also so that the travellers could prepare themselves for whatever may arise as they go through it.

[Dax]

And goodluck with the application.
Thanks! :) Sou ne, hintayin na lang natin kung magiging law.


Ordinary long term residents, on the other hand, are able to simply renew their visas as long as they have the minimum status required - ergo, a student from a "suspect" country could just enroll in a Japanese school and get a visa and then renew it as long as he stays enrolled.I agree with the GOJ with this - to eliminate the loophole. If I don't get the PR, I would just have to come extra earlier to Narita then for the fingerprinting. Shouganai, we have to abide by the law if it indeed becomes one.

[pointblank]

Thanks! :) Sou ne, hintayin na lang natin kung magiging law.

I agree with the GOJ with this - to eliminate the loophole. If I don't get the PR, I would just have to come extra earlier to Narita then for the fingerprinting. Shouganai, we have to abide by the law if it indeed becomes one.

I could be wrong, but I think it's the other way around: the finger printing is not on the way out of Japan, it's when you come IN.

On the other hand, you do have a good idea there... if they fingerprint the foreigners already living inside Japan as they leave, then it will make the re-entry procedure faster the first time they come back in. The data will already be on file, and there would be no need for the immigration officer at entry to take time to enter the data.

[Dax]

I could be wrong, but I think it's the other way around: the finger printing is not on the way out of Japan, it's when you come IN.Sabi kasi sa isang editorial ng Japan Times:
In an effort to check an increase in crimes committed by foreigners, the government is moving toward introducing compulsory fingerprinting for foreigners entering and leaving Japan -- a move that is expected to draw fire from foreign residents in Japan and possibly lead to conflicts with some foreign governments.More at: http://search.japantimes.co .jp/print/opinion/ed2005/ed20050709a1.htm

Medyo luma na pala yan, last July pa baka hindi na kasama ang palabas ng Japan.

[v_wrangler]

Gov't OKs bill to fingerprint, photograph foreigners
http://www.crisscross.com/jp/news/366193

The measure excludes ethnic Koreans and other permanent residents with special status, those under 16, those visiting Japan for diplomatic or official purposes, and those invited by the state.

[Dax]

Thanks for the update v_wrangler. Gawa na pala ang batas, shikatanai tiis na lang tayo sa hassle. :O I just hope that this law would really stop foreign terrorists from entering Japan. But how would they stop the Japenese terrorists? :confused:

[v_wrangler]

Thanks for the update v_wrangler. Gawa na pala ang batas, shikatanai tiis na lang tayo sa hassle. :O I just hope that this law would really stop foreign terrorists from entering Japan. But how would they stop the Japenese terrorists? :confused:

You're welcome Dax, I think this bill is a two-edged sword, it says it will filter out the terrorists but at the same time it could also touch on the illegal migration issue...