Japan nixes advance deportation notice to lawyers of foreigners

TOKYO - The Japanese government has ended a practice of notifying lawyers representing foreign nationals, in principle, two months before their deportation, a system introduced in 2010 under an agreement with a bar association.

In making the decision effective on Feb. 1, the Immigration Services Agency cited cases in which foreigners had gone missing following the deportation notices. The bar association protested the move, arguing that it violates foreigners' right to a trial for demanding the withdrawal of deportation orders.