The lawyer for a woman from a South Asian country who was deported the same day her bid for refugee status was rejected sent a letter of protest and a questionnaire to Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa and immigration-related authorities, it was learned Thursday.

The letter, written by attorney Satoko Kitamura, says the Oct. 17 deportation violated the applicant's right to due process of law, as guaranteed by Article 31 of the Constitution, along with the right to court access, as guaranteed by Article 32.

Immediately after the Justice Ministry turned down her objection to an earlier rejection of refugee status, the 31-year-old woman was sent back to her home country without an opportunity to talk to her lawyer.

The lawyer said the deportation was particularly oppressive because she was preparing to take legal action to have the decision reversed.

Kitamura said she didn't find out about her client's deportation until Monday -- when she went to see her at a detention center. She said the authorities knew the deported woman was consulting with the lawyer to sue the government.