Legislation to galvanize immigration laws and tackle international organized crime is being prepared for submission to the extraordinary Diet session expected to begin this month, Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama said Friday.

The legislation is intended to allow authorities to deport foreigners who commit minor crimes such as theft and receive prison terms of one year or less, or suspended sentences. The amendments would also empower authorities to deport foreigners who broker heinous crimes.

Immigration inspectors would also be given stronger authority in investigating the activities of foreign residents when they apply for things, such as visa renewals, and deport those who engage in activities not permitted under their visa status.

Under current law, foreigners granted resident status are not deported during the period of their stay unless they are sentenced to penal servitude of more than one year.

The move is in line with an agreement made in early July by a government task force to promote measures against international organized crime in the face of the problems of foreigners illegally entering and staying in the country and a rise in such crimes as burglaries via lock-picking, car thefts, illicit export of stolen vehicles and credit card forgery.

In a related move, the Justice Ministry is also preparing legislative measures to counter hooligans in preparation for the 2002 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea, Moriyama said.

The legislation, which is also expected to be submitted to the extraordinary Diet session, is aimed at keeping hooligans from entering Japan and deporting them should they succeed in gaining entry.

To this end, the ministry will identify specific scenarios under which potentially troublesome individuals may be refused entry, ministry officials said.