Last year, Japan deported a suspected al-Qaida member, Naim Feroz, a Pakistani who was living in Tokyo as a house painter.  Mr. Feroz allegedly was trained at a terrorist base in Afghanistan.  According to Kyodo News, during a search of Mr. Feroz’s home, police found documents linking him to the group and photos of al-Qaida leader Osama bin laden. The police also suspects that he may have been in phone contact with al-Qaida members in other countries during his stay in Japan.

Earlier this year, reports revealed that Japanese and U.S. security officials suspected a high-ranking al-Qaida member came to Japan in 2000 to raise funds and left just before September 11, 2001.

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Members of an alleged al-Qaida sleeper cell in the Toronto area, who were mostly foreign students, were deported to their native Pakistan.  Immigration spokesmen said that some of the alleged terrorists were failed refugees who had previous removal orders.

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Because Korea’s immigration rules are causing problems for foreign investors, beginning next year, Korea will allow foreign investors to obtain a three-year visa in place of the current one-year visa.  This new allowance is part of a five-year plan to improve living conditions for foreigners.  Additionally, foreigners who invest over $100 million in Korea will be eligible for permanent resident status regardless of the qualifications required by law.

The government plans to ease other permanent residence qualifications.  Beginning in 2005, foreigners can apply for South Korean permanent resident status after residing there for less than five years, instead of the twelve-year period currently required.  Also, in order to improve the quality of foreign schools, foreign teachers will be able to obtain visas without being forced to leave the country in order to obtain them at Korean embassies abroad.

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According to an Amnesty International report, immigrants such as Cubans and Haitians who flee their homeland for the Bahamas are treated like criminals and then forced to return home.

Bahamian authorities responded that the Bahamas is still developing, and is struggling with limited resources.  Because of this, it must utilize whatever resources necessary in order to prevent the country from becoming a gateway for these individuals to gain entry to the U.S.