Publisher's Synopsis
During the so-called McCarthy era, more than sixty American families sought refuge in Mexico. These political expatriates-individuals, idealist, visionaries, informers and spies-are a compelling group. While some of their lives have been extensively documented, most have not, but deserve to be. The FBI called them the ACGM, the American Communist Group in Mexico. Among their ranks were Spanish Civil War veterans, 'undesirable' U. S. Resident aliens, Communist Party organisers, Hollywood activists, 'unfriendly' witnesses at congressional hearings, and a handful who maintained an underground apparatus of the Communist Party of the U. S. A. Mexico's reputation as a sanctuary was well known. President Lázaro Cárdenas had provided refuge for Leon Trotsky, the Spanish Republicans and World War II refugees. In addition, the United States often denied passports to the politically suspect and Mexico was one of just two countries that waived passport requirements of U. S. citizens; Canada was the other. Few of these refugees were financially secure, but they had heard that one could live cheaply in Mexico. They were also aware of its temperate weather and fairly tolerant political climate. While some political expatriates died in Mexico and a handful continue to live there, the majority returned to the United States within a few years, but not before leaving a mark-however tenuous-in the areas of film, art, archaeology, contemporary dance, and public health. More importantly, Mexico marked them. Some acquired new skills, married Mexicans, and lost contact with the American community. Those who left continue to hanker, decades later, for a chile en nogada smothered in cream; choke up when they hear a trio play La Peregrina; grope for the precise word in English and retain an unconditional affection and feeling of gratitude toward Mexico and its people.
