Give foreign residents the same rights to leave and re-enter Japan!
定住している外国人の再入国を一切認めない「水際戦略」への転換
Covid-19の感染者の入国を恐れて入国を規制する「水際戦略」が実施されています。とくに4月5日以来、これまでに3回にわたり入国を拒否する国と地域を拡大すると同時に、対象国からの入国は、たとえ日本に生活の拠点を持つ外国人であっても、その再入国ができないことになっているのをご存じでしょうか。もし規制後に対象国に出国した場合は、永住者や、日本人の配偶者や親子でも特例を認めないと規制要項に明記されているのです。家族の不幸や仕事上の緊急性などどんな渡航理由を上げて入国管理局に問い合わせても「再入国できない」の一点張りの返答しか得られません。例外は一切認めないというのです。
As COVID-19 spread, Japan implemented the current “Border Strategy” to restrict the entry of international visitors into Japan. Since April 5, the number of countries and regions being denied entry has expanded to 111. However, this has made it impossible for permanent residents and long-term foreign nationals living in Japan with proper visas to re-enter the country! The regulation guidelines that were set in place clearly state that no exceptions will be made for permanent residents, or the spouses of Japanese nationals and their parents and children. Even if such a person must leave for a family bereavement, work-related emergency or other urgent issue, the Immigration Bureau states: "You cannot re-enter the country. No exceptions.
根拠は国籍だけ !? 差別を止めて!
このように国籍のみに依拠して区別する施策は明らかな差別です。日本に生活の本拠を置くすべての国内居住者も、強化された検疫さえ受けるならば、再度の入国が認めるよう求めます。早急に差別的な政策を破棄するとともに、日本社会を構成する人すべてが協力し合ってこの困難を乗り越えようというメッセージをぜひ出していただきたいと思います。
The current restrictions are based on nationality alone. Japan is the only G7 nation that does not give foreign nationals with long-term residence status the same rights as citizens in terms of leaving and re-entering. The current measures discriminate against people who have careers, businesses and families here in Japan, who have paid taxes and contributed to society for years. They have legal residence in Japan, yet they cannot return to Japan if they have to leave to deal with an emergency.
We (long-term and permanent residents, Japanese spouses and families) ask Japan to work together to quickly overturn this discriminatory policy and give the long-term residents the same rights as Japanese citizens–to be allowed back into Japan upon return with enhanced quarantine measures.
往来回復の第一段に
緊急事態宣言が解除されました。ゼロといえる水準まで減少した海外との往来も回復の道を探らなければなりません。暮らしにも、経済活動にも、教育や文化にとっても海外の往来欠かせないのです。入国時の検査体制の強化と隔離・待機場所や移動手段の確保とともに、まずは、長期の在留資格を有する外国人の出国と再入国の再開を、往来回復の第一歩にしてください。
Japan’s State of Emergency has been lifted. Japan is now talking about opening up the country to international visitors step-by-step. Along with securing quarantine and waiting areas and means of transportation, the first step should be allowing the
departure and re-entry of foreigners with long-term residence status!
AMF 2020 (Association of Multicultural Families)
参考リンク