Finally on land, one Cuban migrant makes a call home. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN MIGRANT SAYING: "Tell her I'm here in American soil. I landed, I came. Don't ever forget that I came!" Eleven men, one woman, and a dog made the journey from Cuba to Miami in a small boat. And they say they're lucky to be alive. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MIGRANT CARLOS GARCIA SAYING: "Six days of very bad weather. We really thought that we were going to die and God brought us over here. We saw the light." They were greeted with kindness on Miami Beach. The Delano Hotel provided food and water. Some people gave them clothes. And there was another unexpected gift. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WITNESS JERRY HOLMES SAYING: "The guy actually came out, he walked what was going on. He found out what actually happened, the things they went through and just gave everyone a hundred dollars and went back inside." Under U.S. policy, Cuban migrants who reach U.S. soil on smuggler vessels without visas are permitted to stay. After being checked in by border patrol...they'll start their new life in America.