近日，日本發生一起引人關注的非法滯留被捕事件：一名63歲中國男子因騎腳踏車跌倒而被警方盤查，結果意外暴露其在日本非法滯留超過24年的事實，最終被拘留。這起事件引發社會對日本非法滯留者管理政策及執法力度的關注，也凸顯出政策對長期滯留者的影響。

今年5月23日，日本法務省正式公布“零非法滯留者計劃”（不法滞在者ゼロプラン），該政策以“保護日本國民的安全與安心”為宗旨，提出在入境管理、在留審核（包括難民審查）和出境遣返三個階段，全面強化對非法滯留者的管控與處理措施。根據官方統計，截至2025年初，仍有約74,863名外國人在日本非法滯留。

這項計劃標誌著日本對非法滯留者的零容忍態度，沒有“灰色地帶”。政策不僅影響單身或短期滯留者，也對跨國婚姻家庭構成壓力，即使外籍配偶與日本公民結婚，也無法逃避相關規範和法律追責。此舉顯示，日本正逐步跟隨美國的腳步，嚴格打擊非法居留行為，強化邊境管理和出入境審查，並通過強制遣返措施，試圖實現非法滯留者數量歸零的目標。

這起63歲男子因意外跌倒而被捕的案例，也提醒社會，非法滯留者即便長期隱身，也可能因日常生活中的偶發事件而暴露身份，面臨法律追責與遣返風險。政策的實施對在日外國人生活帶來實質影響，也引發跨國家庭、長期居留者與日本社會之間的複雜互動與法律挑戰。

Recently, a notable case in Japan drew public attention when a 63-year-old Chinese man was stopped by police after falling off his bicycle, only for authorities to discover that he had been illegally residing in Japan for over 24 years. This unexpected arrest highlighted the strict measures Japan is implementing against long-term illegal residents and sparked discussions about the country’s immigration enforcement policies.

On May 23, 2025, the Japanese Ministry of Justice officially announced the “Zero Illegal Stay Plan” (不法滞在者ゼロプラン), aimed at “protecting the safety and peace of mind of Japanese citizens.” The policy strengthens controls and enforcement at three stages: entry management, residency review (including refugee examinations), and deportation procedures. According to official statistics, as of early 2025, approximately 74,863 foreigners remained in Japan illegally.

The plan demonstrates Japan’s zero-tolerance approach toward illegal residency, leaving no gray areas. It affects not only single or short-term illegal residents but also poses challenges to cross-national marriages. Even foreign spouses of Japanese citizens are subject to strict compliance with immigration regulations and legal accountability. Japan appears to be following in the footsteps of the United States in cracking down on unauthorized residents, reinforcing border management, residency checks, and deportation measures to achieve the goal of eliminating illegal stays.

The case of the 63-year-old man, arrested due to a simple accident, also serves as a reminder that illegal residents—even those who have evaded detection for decades—can be exposed through ordinary, everyday incidents. This incident underscores the real-life impact of the “Zero Illegal Stay” policy on foreign residents, highlighting the complex interactions and legal challenges between long-term foreigners, cross-national families, and Japanese society.