Foreigners Locked for 24 Hours at Osaka Immigration Facility

November 6, 2018

Osaka--The Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau locked a total of 17 foreign detainees in a room for six people for about 24 hours after they acted violently, officials said Monday.

The measure was taken in June at an immigration facility in the western city of Osaka "to keep order" after their belligerent acts, such as jeering, an official said, describing the measure as "appropriate."

No one was hurt, according to the officials.

Around noon on June 17, detainees refused to leave the six-person room even though they were told to go back to their own rooms after their free time ended.

The bureau locked the room after the detainees used abusive language and acted aggressively, banging on the door and windows.

The room was unlocked in the afternoon of the next day, after the detainees calmed down.

They apparently became frustrated after being ordered to leave Japan due to illegal stays and other reasons, informed sources said.

The room has a television, beds and a toilet. The bureau did not disclose the size of the room for security reasons. Jiji Press