A group of lawyers in Japan has urged the government to grant special permission for residency to all foreign children living in the country without resident status, regardless of whether they meet specific conditions.

The lawyers and foreigners without resident status held a rally in Tokyo on Friday, advocating for changes to a government scheme regarding residency for foreign children and their parents. This scheme comes after a revision to Japan's immigration law in June.

According to the government's plan, children from elementary through senior high school age who were born and raised in Japan will be granted residency, along with their parents, if the child wishes to remain in the country and the parents have no serious criminal records.

The Immigration Services Agency estimates that among the roughly 200 children under the age of 18 without residency, 70 to 80 percent would be granted permission under this plan.

Although participants of Friday's rally viewed the government's plan as a step forward, they pointed out that some children are still at risk of deportation due to their overstaying parents.

A 16-year-old high school student from the Middle East said she wouldn't be eligible because she migrated to Japan at the age of six.

She also said she is unable to work to save money for college. She urged the government to extend the permission to all children, not just those born in Japan.

Lawyer Ibusuki Shoichi called for comprehensive measures, saying the current plan excludes individuals who arrived in Japan as young children and those who have already reached adulthood, leading to discriminatory consequences for these relevant children.