News In Brief

April 18, 1984

Surprise search for aliens backed by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that immigration agents may conduct surprise inspections of factories to seek out illegal aliens. The court said the searches and questioning did not constitute the kind of unlawful search and seizure forbidden by the Fourth Amendment.

The justices, splitting 7 to 2, also held that Immigration and Naturalization Service agents may question individual workers about their citizenship.