. >> reporter: every day, cubans cross this border bridge from mexico into laredo, texas. the cuban adjustment act guaranteed asylum to refugees fleeing the communist regime. they qualify for a green card after a year and a day. and citizenship five years but now they're afraid the thawing of diplomatic relations will end that special protection. she says "how was i supposed to get here if they change the law? it would have been impossible?" most cuban refugees no longer try to reach miami on make shift rafts. capture and the currents are risky. they now fly to a latin american country like ecuador. then spend months making a 2,000 mile trip on land through half dozen countries before reaching the texas border. 51,000 arrived here last year. 68% of them through laredo. >> whole transnational human smuggling operation. >> jorge studies human migration patterns at florida international university. well organized? >> very well organized. second most profitable illegal network after the legally trade business. >> most head to miami. office. we met andres hernandez. his trip he