13-year old orphan Thai girl may be kicked out of Japan

Thai girl pleads to stay in Japan as resident status set to expire

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An adopted Thai girl living with her grandparents in Japan following the death of her parents held a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday appealing for permanent residence to avoid being deported.

The girl, Mevisa Yoshida, 13, read out a message addressed to the Justice Minister, asking to be allowed to permanently stay in the country.

"I'm worried about what's going to happen in the future," she said. "Even if I go back to Thailand, I won't have a place to stay. I'm happy with my life in Japan. I've received a lot of support from friends, and I want to do my best in Japan in the future. Please grant my wish."

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Mevisa came to Japan in February last year to live as an adopted child of her grandmother. Her grandmother is married to a Japanese man.

Her current resident status is classified under "designated activities." She has applied for permanent residence, but the Ministry of Justice allows adoption as a reason for granting permanent residence only if the person is aged under six years. Former Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa extended the limit on Mevisa's stay by three months in July. This runs out on Wednesday.
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"Generally speaking, if the only people who can support the person are in Japan, then the person is allowed to live in the country on humanitarian grounds. I want to reach a solution as soon as possible."

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Let's see what the Japanese authorities decide. They aren't going to send a 13-year old orphan back to her home country alone, when the only relative she has lives in Japan, married to a Japanese. That would be inhumane.

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Originally Posted by Maciamo

Let's see what the Japanese authorities decide. They aren't going to send a 13-year old orphan back to her home country alone, when the only relative she has lives in Japan, married to a Japanese. That would be inhumane.

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I don't know. I wouldn't put it past the UK, Australian or USA government. Is Japan that much better?

Here, Japan is facing the problem again... :blush:

I don't know what will happen to Mevisa. But sending back a girl of 13 back to her country where she doesn't have anyone to rely on is a BIG problem...

But on the other hand, this is not only the case...there are plenty more suffering from this country's immigration system.

:(