As I recall, from another NPR episode, most just couldn't find work. Some ran to Mexio, and still couldn't find work. (Their work was pretty bad)
They later made a living out of being on the black-list. Last year (or the year before), a very old communist held a one-man protest at some awards ceremony and the leftists made a big deal about it. Sheesh. I've seen 4 year olds do better.
/john