Immigration detention centers are not prisons but they are facilities designed around the careful monitoring of individuals who have broken Japanese immigration laws. As such, there are strict rules about visiting someone who is currently being held at a detention facility. Each facility has a different set of rules but the general policies are similar. To meet a detainee you should bring proper identification, such as a foreign residence card or passport, and visit the detention center during the center’s office hours. The Osaka detention center is open from 9 to 12 and 1 to 4 on weekdays, although these times can vary. Meetings with a detainee can last for up to 30 minutes although the detention center can shorten this time if necessary.
Visits to an immigration detention center in Japan are governed by strict rules and detention center authorities are allowed to cut short meetings if these rules are not meticulously followed. Likewise, the rules regarding gift-giving are also strictly enforced. The basic rules prohibit any object that might be used as a weapon, including everyday products such as glass or rope as well as sharp metal products or knives. Any product that can start a fire is also prohibited. Poisonous material is also obviously not acceptable as a gift but this rule also prohibits sleeping pills or sedative drugs. Finally, beer and alcoholic beverages are also prohibited at the detention center so no alcoholic gifts are allowed. The detention center authorities may also prohibit foods or drinks that require refrigeration but it is best to check with the detention center to determine what gifts are allowed before any visit.
If you have any questions about deportation from Japan, please contact our office for a legal consultation.