The Japanese government approved a cabinet decision Wednesday to increase the staff of the Immigration Services Agency by 226 people [1].

This expansion signals a shift toward more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws. By increasing the number of personnel dedicated to detection and deportation, the government aims to reduce the number of individuals residing in the country illegally.

Justice Minister Hiraguchi said the increase includes 176 immigration inspectors and 50 immigration guards [1]. The recruitment strategy will specifically target individuals who can provide immediate operational value, such as former members of the Self-Defense Forces and former police officers [1].

According to Hiraguchi, the need for more personnel stems from a persistent number of illegal residents. He said the number of people staying in Japan illegally was over 68,000 as of January [1]. He said this figure has remained at a similar level for several years [1].

The new hires will be tasked with strengthening the identification and removal of those without legal status. The government believes that recruiting experienced security and law enforcement professionals will allow the agency to scale its operations more effectively, ensuring that deportation processes are handled with greater efficiency.

This decision comes as the government seeks to balance its labor needs with stricter border controls. The addition of 226 staff members [1] is intended to provide the necessary manpower to execute these enforcement goals across the agency's jurisdictions.

“Justice Minister Hiraguchi said the increase includes 176 immigration inspectors and 50 immigration guards.”

The decision to recruit former military and police personnel indicates that Japan is treating the issue of illegal residency as a security and enforcement priority rather than a purely administrative one. By targeting 'immediate assets,' the government is accelerating its ability to conduct raids and deportations, reflecting a hardening stance on immigration enforcement to stabilize the number of undocumented residents.