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Japan moves to tighten rules for foreigners

206 points · 623 comments · mikhael

  1. autoexec · · focus · HN ↗
    Requiring proficiency in the language is reasonable, but requiring everyone to be richer than the average member of the population and have enough money banked to live off of for 30 years seems insane. That goes well beyond simply making sure that people are able to care for themselves.
    1. Animats · · focus · HN ↗
      The US has something like this, but the income threshold is lower.[1] US immigrants in most categories have to show that they will not become a "public charge", that is, need US welfare benefits.

      [1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.uscis.gov&#x2F;newsroom&#x2F;alerts&#x2F;uscis-issues-guidance-on-making-public-charge-inadmissibility-determination" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.uscis.gov&#x2F;newsroom&#x2F;alerts&#x2F;uscis-issues-guidance-...

      1. TMWNN · · focus · HN ↗
        Every single person who came through Ellis Island &lt;<a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.newspapers.com&#x2F;article&#x2F;the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-precautions-tak&#x2F;20781025&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.newspapers.com&#x2F;article&#x2F;the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-...&gt;

        * was a legal immigrant

        * had passed a medical inspection

        * had proof of having enough resources to pay for their upkeep in the US, or a US financial sponsor guaranteeing same

        * was turned away if failing any of the above tests, with no possibility of appeal

        Shipping liner companies were charged to return ineligible passengers to their origin (the same is true with airlines today), so they had every incentive to verify ahead of time that they could enter the destination country. The &quot;only 2% of immigrants were rejected at Ellis Island&quot; statistic often bandied-about by the pro-open borders side elides the restrictions that caused the rate to be so low in the first place.

        I, for one, am very much in favor of reinstating such barriers to entering the US.

        1. hyperpape · · focus · HN ↗
          &gt; was a legal immigrant

          Technically true, extremely misleading. The law placed vastly fewer restrictions on who was a legal immigrant for much of that period. Of course, it is true starting in 1921, and 1924, legislation was put in place to limit immigration by &quot;undesirables&quot; such as Asians, Italians and Slavs.

          Curious...which one of those regimes do you want to bring back?

          1. 0xDEAFBEAD · · focus · HN ↗
            I&#x27;m not sure people should be forced to live with those they feel xenophobia towards, even if one grants that the feelings of xenophobia have no basis in reality.
            1. whatshisface · · focus · HN ↗
              Before I read your comment, can I see your papers?
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