Japan-born Thai Teen Fights to Stay at Home After Deportation Ruling

[Chittychangchang]

A 17-year-old Thai boy born in Japan fights to stay in the country after a court’s decision to deport him.

Utinan Won was born and raised in Japan. His native tongue is Japanese. Just like his peers, he enjoyed playing video games and watching videos online.

The problem: Won is the son of visa overstayers.

Lonsan Phaphakdee, a Thai native, overstayed her visa after being tricked by job brokers who brought her to Japan in 1995. Won’s father, whom he has no memory of, also overstayed his visa. He was Thai, too.

Lonsan gave birth to Won in 2000. She moved between Thai communities across central Japan as Won grew up, afraid that authorities would catch her. Won started going to school only at junior high school.

Lonsan eventually thought of improving Won’s status. She turned herself before the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in 2013, which, unfortunately, determined their nightmare the following year: they must go back to Thailand.

Won recalled (via The Japan Times):

“I was shocked. My brain went completely blank. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I wondered if it was because I did not attend elementary school. I asked myself over and over again, but I couldn’t figure out why I had to leave.”

The mother-and-son asked the central government to cancel the deportation order in January 2015, but by June 2016, the Tokyo District Court turned them down.

In December 2016, the Tokyo High Court maintained the previous decision and ruled that they must settle in Thailand.

The legal ordeal was too much for Won. Thankfully, he has the complete support of his classmates, teachers and other people aware of his case. He said they made “great efforts” to help him stay.

Won is currently on provisional release. However, his hopes hang on an ongoing request to review the Immigration’s 2014 order. If all goes well, he might be given a special residency permit.
“Thailand is not a place where I can return. It’s not that I don’t like Thailand, because that’s my mother’s home country. But for me, Japan is my only home,” Won said.

Japan-born Thai Teen Fights to Stay at Home After Deportation Ruling

[Maanaam]

If all goes well, he might be given a special residency permit.

Would Thailand even consider that if the situation was reversed?

[Pragmatic]

^
Nope Thailand is for Thais.

[cyrille]

I'd assumed that question was rhetorical.

[terry57]

Bit of shock for the poor little bastard after being raised in a proper county like Japan.

At least he can get a proper job here using his Japanese Education, be light years ahead of the average Thai monkey Eh.

[pickel]

At least he can get a proper job here using his Japanese Education, be light years ahead of the average Thai monkey Eh

Except for the fact he can barely speak Thai, and can't read or write it either.

[terry57]

^

Oh yes you're correct.

He's fucked then Eh, maybe start a Sushi restaurant then.

[Luigi]

If all goes well, he might be given a special residency permit.

Would Thailand even consider that if the situation was reversed?

Sure.

If they pass the 3 by 3 by 3 criteria.

[Pragmatic]

Except for the fact he can barely speak Thai

Do we believe that?

[pickel]

Except for the fact he can barely speak Thai

Do we believe that?

Why wouldn't you believe it? He's never been to Thailand.

[Luigi]

^ He probably said it in Thai.

P...P....Put Thai mai dai loyyyyyy.

Shifty, sneaky foookers the lot of 'em.

[Pragmatic]

Why wouldn't you believe it? He's never been to Thailand.

I've never been to Japan but it doesn't stop me being fluent in Japanese.

[Auroria]

Are you fluent in Japanese, Pragmatic?

[Maanaam]

If all goes well, he might be given a special residency permit.

Would Thailand even consider that if the situation was reversed?

Sure.

If they pass the 3 by 3 by 3 criteria.

Do you want to explain why you keep calling me dodgy?
Go on, you've failed to so far, so why persist?

[Auroria]

Won’s father, whom he has no memory of, also overstayed his visa. He was Thai, too.

He looks more Thai than Japanese.

Wonder if the mother got knocked up by a Jap, and he told her to do one (she was just a Thai bit on the side or whatever) and she made up the story of a Thai man to save face a bit.

[Gazza]

Except for the fact he can barely speak Thai

Do we believe that?

Why wouldn't you believe it? He's never been to Thailand.

In the OP it says he moved around Thai communities. No doubt then that his cradle language would be Thai.

I've visited a few Thai communities in Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, and they've always reverted to speaking Thai amongst themselves as would be expected, even though they were fluent speakers of Japanese.

Also, I've met a few lowly Japanese who had a very good command of Thai despite never having set foot in Thailand.

[Pragmatic]

Are you fluent in Japanese, Pragmatic?

Nah. Sorry, I didn't word my reply to 'Pickel' very well.

[CaptainNemo]

At least he can get a proper job here using his Japanese Education, be light years ahead of the average Thai monkey Eh

Except for the fact he can barely speak Thai, and can't read or write it either.

Neither can many Thais; his Japanese will serve him well in Thailand, workwise, though.

[pickel]

Would Thailand even grant him citizenship?

[Pragmatic]

Probably, like any stateless person in Thailand he would have to apply for citizenship. Likely he would struggle initially as he wouldn't have a Thai ID card or be registered on a blue book.

[katie23]

^wouldn't he be granted Th citizenship since his mom is a Th citizen - jus sanguinis - or are things different in Th? Just curious, since PI uses the principle of jus sanguinis, not jus soli.

His case reminds me of the 'dreamers' in the US. 'Dream' act of the Obama gov't re: illwgals brought to the US as kids...

Also reminds me of Fluke & Ben, but that's another matter...heh

[Luigi]

Would Thailand even grant him citizenship?

Of course. Why wouldn't it.

He has at least one Thai parent. She was obviously a citizen if she traveled to Japan with a Japanese visa.

[Auroria]

He should do quite well in Thailand, definitely better prospects than some Thai educated in Thailand.

Japanese companies will be able to hire him without any legal redtape stuff.

The prospect of a Thai company based in Japan hiring him is also likely to be an option.

[Pragmatic]

Japanese companies will be able to hire him without any legal redtape stuff. The prospect of a Thai company based in Japan hiring him is also likely to be an option.

With being stateless, which is likely to be the case on returning to Ting Tong Land, he will not be allowed to work until he obtains Thai nationality.