Japan raises penalties for illegal immigrants

According to International Herald Tribune, the parliament approved a bill on Thursday to tighten immigration rules, as concern increased over Japan's vulnerability to international terrorism.

"The legislation raises the penalty for illegally staying in Japan to ¥3 million, about $27,000, from ¥300,000. It also prohibits foreigners who have been deported from re-entering the country in the next 10 years, twice as long as before. The measure is to be phased in over a year."