A Cuban woman ships herself to Miami in a wooden crate on a cargo plane. U.S. authorities are now allowing her to stay permanently.

Sandra De los Santos has received political asylum. She says she's studying English and hopes to become an ultrasound technician.

In his decision, the judge cited the risk of persecution if Santos were returned to Cuba. Her attorney argued that the heavy media attention his client received due to her unusual means of travel would make her an easy target for political harassment.

De los Santos was a former law student at the University of Havana who left the island for the Bahamas in May 2004. Three months later, she packed herself into a DHL box and remained in a fetal position for six hours until the box arrived at Miami International Airport.

Under the "wet-foot, dry-foot policy," Cubans who reach U.S. soil are usually allowed to stay. Those picked up at sea are sent back to Cuba.