My friend, a filipino citizen, got arrested about 3 weeks ago. Her crime: overstay without a valid visa. She has a job, a home, a daughter living with her and no criminal precedents. And now ?
She is detained at a police station facing criminal charges. Visits are allowed only 3 times a week, 15 miuntes each time. Communication only in Japanese. She is moved around handcuffed. A glass in between her and the visitors, one policewoman listening and watching. No visits on the weekend. She stays in a tatami room with 2 other inmates, no window, no daylight, the same crappy obento every day. She lost 4 kilos already. 2 sets of underwear are allowed, limited chances to wash them. A shower every 3rd day. No medical support given. No clear indications about the length of detention and the process. If lucky, she will be passed over to immigration, stay another 4-6 weeks and then be deported. Otherwise she will face criminal charges.
All this in one of the most advanced countries. Humanity is obviously not part of this system. You break the rules and your're out.
The irony of all this: whenever there is a razzia in the entertainment industry, the shop owners are warned on time. They do not only know the day of the intended police control, but even the time. The connection police-yakuza works perfectly for the big crimes. Not so for the small things with individual fates involved - at least not with a minimum of humanity.
She is detained at a police station facing criminal charges. Visits are allowed only 3 times a week, 15 miuntes each time. Communication only in Japanese. She is moved around handcuffed. A glass in between her and the visitors, one policewoman listening and watching. No visits on the weekend. She stays in a tatami room with 2 other inmates, no window, no daylight, the same crappy obento every day. She lost 4 kilos already. 2 sets of underwear are allowed, limited chances to wash them. A shower every 3rd day. No medical support given. No clear indications about the length of detention and the process. If lucky, she will be passed over to immigration, stay another 4-6 weeks and then be deported. Otherwise she will face criminal charges.
All this in one of the most advanced countries. Humanity is obviously not part of this system. You break the rules and your're out.
The irony of all this: whenever there is a razzia in the entertainment industry, the shop owners are warned on time. They do not only know the day of the intended police control, but even the time. The connection police-yakuza works perfectly for the big crimes. Not so for the small things with individual fates involved - at least not with a minimum of humanity.