VANCOUVER - Three more of the Chinese refugee claimants found off Vancouver Island will remain in custody. That brings the total number detained to 37. Meanwhile the remaining migrants are on their way to freedom.

Immigration Canada officials say a total of 86 of the migrants have been released or will be released in the next few days. But 8 women and 29 men will remain in custody. They're being held in a Vancouver detention centre and they'll remain there until their identities are clear.

Rob Johnston is with Immigration Canada. He says they're being held because they either can't prove who they are or because they may have been involved in the human smuggling operation.

"As far as their identity, we're not satisfied with it. We're continuing to investigate each one of their cases to determine identity and also investigate any security concerns as well as their possible involvement in the actual smuggling exercise," Johnston says.

The detained migrants are entitled to a review every 7 days. Meanwhile the released migrants will be getting help from local aid agencies, but Johnston says its up to the provincial government to decide if they're entitled to welfare and other social security.