Petitioner (P) was an alien of Mexican birth. He lived in the U.S. since 1918. In the course of questioning by INS in March 1948, P indicated that he had been a member of the communist party from 1944 to 1946. In December 1950, a de novo hearing was held, and P was ordered deported under the Internal Security Act of 1950. A writ of habeas corpus was denied, and that was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit. P appealed.