Category Archives: Immigration

The issue of undocumented immigrants

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by Yui Matsushita

It is a big issue of the world that the number of undocumented immigrants is increasing today. In the election for the U.S. President in November 2012, immigration was one of points at issue. It is said that there are about twelve million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., and most of them have to suffer from many hardships because they don’t have legal status. The way that they become undocumented can be roughly divided into two kinds; illegal entry by a fake passport or crossing a border, and visa overstay which immigrants enter a country by the proper procedures but lose residence status and still stay there. In Japan, the number of the latter case (especially immigration from Asian countries) is decreasing in recent years, but still, it is a problem.

Especially, children of those undocumented immigrants have to go through afflictions more. At least their parents or relatives are conscious of having committed a crime, but children do not intend to do so at all. They immigrate into a new country with their parents, settle down there, get educated and spend their life as a normal resident. They grow up in a new country’s culture, so they adapt its customs and language and foster their identity as one of members of the society where they live now. However, they are still undocumented immigrants. It becomes very hard for them to get higher education, get driver’s license, go to the hospital and leave the country in a proper way. They always have to be scared of being arrested and deported because of a crime which they do not know about. It is unreasonable to deport them from the viewpoint of human rights because this situation divests them of their present life and their future. In the U.S., President Obama started a new policy in 2012 which allows young undocumented immigrants to get resident status. It was executed according to failure of the DREAM Act which allowed them conditional permanent residency. However, it can be only temporary treatment.

Of course the problem is that those immigrants do not have legal status, however, the focus also should be placed on the cause that they became undocumented immigrants. They immigrate for various purposes such as getting a job and escaping from inferior living environment, so if no measure is taken for this matter, the number of undocumented immigrants will do nothing but increase. While taking measures for them domestically, the fundamental cause has to be examined internationally. In addition, society should not stick to only the fact of ‘illegality’. By focusing on their backgrounds as well, it needs to consider the issue of undocumented immigrants.

Undocumented Immigrants

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by Sakiko Maruyama

There are a lot of undocumented immigrants in the world.  While some commit illegal entry deliberately, others aren’t conscious of their undocumented status until they need their ID.  We still don’t have a formal way to differentiate them.  Indeed, especially in the latter case, the boundary of documented and undocumented people sometimes seems to be ambiguous. Undocumented immigrants who belong to the latter situation undoubtedly think of themselves as citizen, until they know they are undocumented immigrants. Even if they notice the fact, they think they are citizen, because they fulfill citizen’s obligation such as going school, working, or paying taxes. But now, there are few measures to protect them.  A nation functions rather exclusive toward the undocumented immigrants and people easily connect undocumented immigrants with crime. We need to differentiate the innocent undocumented immigrants from the others.

Then, it becomes necessary to establish the standards for judging it. The US is proud of itself as a land of immigrants. The society of the US is supported by immigrants. It is important for the US to unify immigrants in order to strengthen the bonds of the nation. There are approximately 11.5 million undocumented immigrants in the US, so they are no longer the minority. The US takes the most positive attitude to this matter in the world. The US prepares the DREAM Act; it would provide undocumented youth with permanent residency or citizenship. This bill is based on the thinking that the undocumented children are innocent because they were took to the US by their families without proper documentation. It hasn’t yet been passed by the Congress, but I agree with this bill. The bill would make it possible to make a border between undocumented immigrants. It means that those children would be separated with their families, so this bill may be harsh to the families whose children are adapted to this bill. But needless to say, the US can’t accept all the undocumented immigrants and then, it seems to be a good standard so far.

Other countries except the US don’t positively deal with the matter of undocumented immigrants. It may take a long time for Japanese government that it comes up in the argument. I hope the DREAM Act will be passed by the Congress as soon as possible, and it affects other countries including Japan.

The Undocumented Immigrant Problem

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by Marina Kouyama

“Issue of undocumented immigrant” – the American society is now facing with this problem. In this paper, I focus on this “undocumented immigrant problem” of America at first, and then consider the situation in Japan compared with the United States.

In America today, 11.2 million undocumented immigrants are estimated to live in the country. It includes the largest number is Hispanics, Asians, Muslims and Europeans. It is the problem whether people view undocumented immigrants in a positive or negative way. People who affirm claim that undocumented immigrants are an important part of the U.S. society’s workforce even though they are “illegal.” In fact, many workers who work on a large farm are undocumented immigrants who come from Mexico and some other countries. While on the other hand, people who oppose argue that undocumented immigrant could disturb the social order, concerning that American citizens have to pay for undocumented immigrant’s medical-care cost or unemployment insurance, or undocumented people deprive American citizen of their employment opportunity. Also, it is the problem that young generation of “undocumented immigrant” are innocent because they were brought to the country by their parents.

The problem about undocumented immigrant was a controversial issue in the recent U.S. presidential election, in which Obama was reelected.

The undocumented immigrant’s issue about what to do with their visa status has been the one of big tasks of American politics. In the previous presidential election, Obama made a granting of a path to legal status for undocumented youths a campaign promise, and has been aimed to realize the enactment of the DREAM Act. However, the DREAM Act is still invalid because of the criticism from the opposition Republicans. Therefore, last June (before the election), Obama announced a new policy of undocumented immigrant. He took measure to grant temporary residential status to undocumented youths by executive order, which does not require congressional action. Young undocumented immigrants can get the status if they come to America before age of 16 years; are 30 or younger; have lived in America since 15 June 2007; graduated from or are currently in high school, or are an American soldier; have no previous records of committing crimes. It is presumed that about 0.8 to 1.7 millions of undocumented youths would be blessed with this new policy. In the recent election, Obama did not directly win the vote from them as they did not have the vote right.

However, he gained support from Hispanic-American those close to undocumented people. According to New York Times report, 71% of Hispanic-American voted for him. Attention is currently focused on future moves of Obama administration.

In contrast to sign of improvement of undocumented immigrant in the U.S., Japan’s situation is getting worse. On July 9, 2012, foreign resident registration system was abolished, due to the revision of the immigration law. Legal residents get “resident card”, meanwhile, illegal residents cannot gain it. There is fear that undocumented residents become lack of access to essential administrative services without public identification. Also, it will become more difficult for them to find employment. A Ministry of Justice view these detriments as natural result because law revision is to regulate illegal stay.

It is surprising to see the difference about policy toward undocumented people between the United States and Japan. Even though America is nation of immigrant and Japan is not, Japanese policy seems to me too harsh for those people. Illegal residents in Japan are undeniably labors who prop up the Japanese economy. Therefore, Japanese government should offer minimum services (education to medical treatment and social insurance).

References

27 November, 2012. Education Week. “Undocumented Youths Will Not Be Deported”. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/learning-the-language/2012/06/undocumented_youths.html

7 November, 2012. New York Times. “A Record Latino Turnout, Solidly Back Obama and Wield Influence”. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/us/politics/with-record-turnout-latinos-solidly-back-obama-and-wield-influence.html?_r=0

6 July, 2012. The Japan Times. “New Rules Put Scare Into Illegal Immigrants”. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120706f1.html

Undocumented Immigrants

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by Maho Machida

In America, about 1100 million immigrants live illegally. They don’t have future in their country and come to America, seeking a better life. Some people commit a crime and that is a fear of local people. The case of Farmingville is a good example. Other people work hard, having a fear of deportations. Undocumented immigrations are burdens and the cause of deterioration in security for American society. On the other hand, they are necessary labor force for them. They are engaged in the jobs the American don’t want to do. Most of workers in agriculture are immigrants, including undocumented immigrants.

Considering this situation, I agree with Obama’s framing of undocumented immigrant issues. I think those who are not a threat to the US security can or should contribute to its society. So I agree with the DREAM act. The government should provide the young with a certain legal status and permanent residency, I think. The reasons are as follows. The young undocumented immigrants who followed their parents as children grew up in America and have an American identity. They are innocent and some of them didn’t know they live illegally until they apply for the university and driver license. With regard to their parents, it is inevitable to return to their country as punishments for illegal stay, I think. If not, the inequality between those who have a child or not could be caused. However, it is necessary the consideration that their deportation should be deferred until their children become independent, I think.

As I state above, I’m in favor of DREAM Act, however I don’t hope that it leads to increase the number of undocumented immigrations. In my opinion, it would be not good for both a sending and receiving country. In a sending country, its development would remain worse because of population drain. In receiving country, the number of the problems accompanied with it would increase. Therefore, regulations in border should be enforced in order not to enter illegally. Moreover, a work visa should be more flexible and easier accessible to immigrants, so that the companies in America can keep workforce and immigrants can get jobs.

It seems natural to me that everyone seeks a better life, hoping good future. Therefore, such people can realize it their country, or a new country where they migrate legally from their country. I hope such world comes true someday.

Undocumented Migrants

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by Maika Kubo

In the US, there are 1.2 million illegal migrants. 70% of them came from Mexico and other Latin American countries to earn better wages. In the class, especially we’ve learned about undocumented migrants who were brought by parents when they were children.

They go to local school and learn local language. They grow up same as other children. However, they notice the fact that they are undocumented migrants when they need identification. They can’t drive because they can’t get driver’s license. They can’t go abroad because they can’t get passport. Also, sometimes they can’t get job because of the lack of identification.

There are two opinions about undocumented migrants. One opinion affirms the stay of undocumented migrants because they contribute to the development of the country as one people. Also, these migrants didn’t commit a crime. They were just brought by parents. The other opinion denies the stay of undocumented migrants because they increase the country’s burden of social security. Also, admitting the stay of undocumented migrant would promote the illegal immigration.

The U.S. president Obama is the former. He declared “DREAM act” which helps undocumented migrants. This law admits less than 30 year-old undocumented migrants who were brought by parents when they were less than 16 years old. They have to be enrolled or graduated from high school in the US, and also they mustn’t have been arrested. If this law is carried out, these undocumented migrants won’t be forced repatriation in two years.

I agree with “DREAM act”, because these migrants should be admitted as American. In Japan, there are many Korean residents. After the WWII, many Korean people smuggle themselves into Japan to escape from the fires of the Korean War. Their descendants go to Japanese school, and grow up as Japanese. I have many such friend, however, I can’t distinguish whether they are Korean or not until they tell it to me because they are totally Japanese. I think environment where they grow is the most important matter when we think about identity, because people can grow up only by being influenced by the environment. They learn their language, common sense, culture, and behavior by the environment. Only the environment can makes people’s character. Therefore, even if the parents are illegal migrants, their children shouldn’t treat as illegal, and they should be given the right to reside.

Immigrants can be a good factor economically or not

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by Koichi Sugimoto

Today, migration is becoming a serious problem that is unavoidable. In Japan, that problem barely has been spoken about because the Japanese government has taken a restricted approach to immigrants for a long time, but this Japan’s case is relatively rare compared with other countries. For example, in the case of the US, this country consists of immigrants from a historic point of view, and now the US is facing that problem. As we can see the election, the immigrant’s problem was an important issue, and eventually Obama showed citizens a tolerant policy, but the problem concerned with American unemployed remains there. Japan will be facing this problem as well as the US. In that case, I think Japanese government should take more immigrants. I am going to argue that reason in the next paragraph.

First of all, I’d like to see the present Japan’s situation. Some companies changed an official language from Japanese to English, and also are about to adopt more foreigners. That means they have to spread the market to global areas, so they decided to take more foreigners and bring up global people who are having recent widespread values. This may be the time to be ought to accept more immigrants. However, that is not easy because there is a problem about unemployed as well, and the population is occupied by almost all the same race, Asian. That’s because Japanese still keep having a thing like a single nationalism, and also they have a prejudice against foreigners because many crimes by them are often taken up by the media, but Japanese should understand that is a merely part of all of crimes.

On the other hand, I believe immigrants give us some benefits such as, different values, ways, thoughts and something. Japanese absorb these factors, and should be more tolerant toward everything that happened in the world, but that does not mean all of immigrants can be admitted by the government because Japan has a capacity, so has to choose. Concretely it’s better to do the test to confirm their abilities, for example, communication ability, mathematics, flexibility and something moral. This way will be able to relate to their motivation.

From these reasons, Japanese government should accept more immigrants, but it can be gradually carried out because it’s an important issue, so they need do think a system seriously. Also, successful applicants will be acquired to be motivated, and if possible experienced. I think this way I mentioned above will be able to lighten Japanese future.

Undocumented Immigrants

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by Akifumi Kamamoto

You know, undocumented immigrants are very difficult problem all over the world. I think one of the reasons why it is difficult is concerned about existence of young undocumented immigrants. This is because they didn’t become undocumented immigrants by themselves. Also they didn’t have choice whether they would be undocumented or not, and more some children don’t realize they are undocumented immigrant. Of course, undocumented immigrants are illegal, but children are not guilty, I think. Their parents were in difficult situation in their own countries and left there. I know this process, but they should have thought about their own children who will be born or grown up much more, I think.

In this class, we had some discussions about undocumented immigrants. There were some difficult questions. For example, should undocumented immigrants receive free education, medical care and so on? As I’ve already written in this blog, young undocumented immigrants couldn’t choose, so I think they should receive free education. However, some problems were occurred at the same time. It would make inequality between documented and undocumented immigrants. We can’t decide easily how we should do. In America, there is a policy for undocumented immigrants, Dream Act. I think it is good policy, but as I wrote before there are people who disagree with this policy because of problem of inequality or so. And in my opinion about medical care, I think every immigrant should be able to receive medical care. This is because medical issue is not only for them but for all residents. I mean, disease can be infectious to other people.

In addition, there are some questions which we have to think about. How should government do with undocumented immigrants? Should they be able to stay or have to leave? It is difficult problem, too. I think we have to be strict with undocumented parents. However hard they were in their own countries, undocumented immigrants are illegal. Many countries have policies about immigrant protection, so they should use these policies effectively, I think. In Japan, it is difficult to get protection for immigrants. So I think Japan should be more tolerant with immigrants and make the number of undocumented immigrants decreased.

In conclusion, as I wrote many times, it is difficult to think about immigrant.  Especially the treatment of undocumented immigrants is too difficult. However we have to continue to think about it. I hope the number of immigrants who are in trouble will be decreased.

The Future of Undocumented Immigrants

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by Yuuka Kageyama

An undocumented immigrant is someone who resides in a country without proper documentation and the number of it is estimated over 10 million in the US. Sometimes the adjective “illegal” is used to describe certain immigrants in many places including public organization. However, some people have come to disagree to the use of the word by saying that it’s inaccurate and improper.  The problem over undocumented immigrants is dividing the recognition about them in the US.

It is true that they are not legitimate residents because they entered into the country and keep staying there without getting the permission from the government by using fake passport or overstaying their visas for instance. That’s why they are called as illegal immigrants and some people say it’s not unfair to deport them.

In spite of such viewpoints against undocumented immigrants, they are also regarded as important elements in part because they can contribute to the US economy by paying tax. Moreover, they can have jobs which Americans don’t want to have, and meet the demand in the low cost labor. Moreover, undocumented immigrants, facing to many difficulties such as discrimination and insufficient access to medical care, education and to court because of the fear to be arrested by the police, struggle to change the situation to get a legal status and citizenship.

As can be seen above, there are both opponents and proponents. What should government do about this problem? I think the Dream Act, which provides conditional permanent residency to the young, would be effective because it can protect the children who have no responsibility to their status. In my opinion, the situation of children and that of parents are different. Children have no choice but to be undocumented immigrants because of their parents. For them, new country is their only place to live in and feel attachment to. They should not be treated as illegal, much less deported. As the Convention on the Rights of the Children states, children need to be fully protected irrespective of their situation and the country they belong to. Although there are still problems, it would be easier to reach an agreement on the protection of the children. I don’t think it is better for government to accept more and more immigrants but undocumented immigrants, especially young people in the country should be given the right in some ways so that they can dream hopeful future, which can also contribute to the country.

The Children of Illegal Immigrants

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by Akisato Fujita

Through the classes about undocumented immigrants, I found that there are many illegal immigrants especially in America, and they are suffering from some limitations and obstacles because of their illegal status. Among undocumented immigrants, I felt that the children are in the very serious situation. Therefore, I would like to think about the children of illegal immigrants.

One of the problems of the children of illegal immigrants is whether or not they should be deported with their parents when it is found out that they are illegal. I think that the children could stay in the country, and they are with their parents until they become adults. There are mainly 3 reasons about it.

First, most of the children do not know the language and culture of their country which they were born in. Therefore, it is considered that the children could not lead a good life if they go back to the country. On the other hand, they understand the language and culture of the country where they have grown up and they live now. It can be said that their home country is the country and they have become the people of the country, so it is natural that they should continue to live there.

Second, it cannot be said that the children of undocumented immigrants migrated from their country to the new country illegally. It is sure that illegal immigrants came to the country without legal status, so they commit a crime. However, their children just followed them and the migration is not their will. Therefore, I think that the children have a right to stay in the country. There are no reasons why they are blamed for the illegal immigration.

Finally, the children of illegal immigrants should live with their parents in order to spend a relieved and safe time. Some people claim that their parents should be deported right now because they came to the country illegally. However, considering the children, the existence of the parents would be necessary. If undocumented immigrants go back to the country they used to live in, their children have to live alone because they have no relatives there. It is too hard for the children to live in the situation, so their parents should lead a life with them at least until they become adult.

In short, considering the children of illegal immigrants, it is thought that they could stay in the country they live in now, and be with their parents while they are children.

Refugees in Japan

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by Misa Takahashi

I learned a lot of things about ‘Refugees in Japan’ in this class, and I feel that there are two alienations for refugees in Japan through this class. One of the alienations is ‘aspect of mental alienation’. The other is ‘aspect of system’. I would like to talk about this two alienations, and then I consider about solutions for refugee in Japan problems.

First is ‘mental alienation’. For example, languages and culture barriers, no jobs, and children struggle in school. Of course, these infringe on the life of refugees. Especially, no jobs are serious problem. In Japan, money is most important for living, so no way to work means that no way to live. In fact, if there is jobs for them, these jobs generally something calling ‘3K’. It means that the works of bad situation, kitanai (duty), kitsui (hard), kiken (danger) in Japanese. These are low wages, they can’t have enough income for living. Also, languages and culture barriers and children struggle in school break their mental, difficult to live in Japanese society.

Second is ‘system alienation’. According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of refugees who apply to the institution for refugee admission is 1,867, but only 21 people are admitted. Moreover, these 14 of 21 admitted people once weren’t admitted. They didn’t become admitted refugees until they lodge the not-admitted for the institution. As I have said, Japan system for refugees disturb that they live in Japan.

Considering above mentioned, two alienations for refugees disturb their lives in Japan. On the other hands, words of migration and refugee are not familiar for Japanese. The reason I think are that education about migration and refugee is not enough, the number of admitted refugees is very few, and there is discrimination for foreigners. I think that these are roots the two alienations. We are unfamiliar with refugees, not enough educated, discriminate against foreigners, so there are these issues in our society, I think. To solve these issues, we have to solve the that fundamental problems first.

Reference

Ministry of justice http://www.moj.go.jp/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/nyuukokukanri03_00085.html (final readings 2012,11,13)