Japan's deportation drive stokes fears amid refugee crisis

Japan's relentless push to remove undocumented migrants has sparked widespread anxiety among asylum seekers and long-term foreign residents, rights groups warn, as the conservative government accelerates its Zero Illegal Foreign Residents Plan.

Fear grips foreign nationals amid record deportations

A record 318 foreign nationals, including 52 who had applied for refugee status multiple times, were forcibly deported from Japan under escort in 2025 – a 30% surge from the previous year. The uptick reflects Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration's hardline stance against undocumented immigrants, as well as growing unease in parts of Japanese society.

Human rights organizations, however, condemn the stepped-up deportations as a stark reminder of the government's failure to uphold its duty to protect refugees. The increased pressure is now taking a toll on foreign nationals, many of whom have lived in Japan for decades and fear persecution if sent back to their home countries.