O'HARE CUSTOMS SEARCHES TO BE REVIEWED

A review of personal searches by U.S. Customs Service agents at O'Hare
International Airport was promised Wednesday following allegations of
discriminatory practices.

The U.S. Customs Service has agreed to turn over to the General Accounting
Office in Washington, D.C., information about strip searches performed at
O'Hare in the last five years.

"I think it's a positive development," said Sen. Dick Durbin, who joined
Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun in calling for the inquiry.

The agreement to cooperate with an independent inquiry comes on the heels
of allegations by more than 50 black women of being subjected to pat downs,
strip and body cavity searches by customs agents.

The searches, which customs officials believe are needed to stop drugs from
entering the country through O'Hare, are being challenged in a federal
class action lawsuit filed in May by 18 black women.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago contends at least 18
black women and as many as 200 may have been subjected to the searches in a
small, windowless, enclosed room in the international terminal.

The suit charges the women, all Cook County residents between the ages of
13 and 51, were told they had no rights. Many were pushed, yelled at and
kicked during the intrusive searches.

No contraband was found on their bodies, and all were traveling on business
or vacation, the lawsuit stated.

"We welcome any investigation into the practices that are going on," said
Ed Fox, an attorney who represents the women.

About 60 women have stepped forward so far, he said.

"I'm sure if it's conducted in a fair and forthright way, it will find
discriminatory practices targeting black women," he added.

In 1997, the U.S. Customs Service performed 78 strip searches at O'Hare.
Customs officials haven't said how many of those involved black women,
Durbin said.

Patrick Jones, a spokesman for the U.S. Customs Service in Washington,
D.C., said strip searches are done infrequently without prejudice against
race.

"They are done because there was some suspicion that individuals might be
having illegal drugs on their bodies or in their bodies," he said.

It could be months before the GAO has answers about the situation at O'Hare.

"Before we invade anyone's privacy, I think it has to be a good cause,"
Durbin said.