VANCOUVER - Some of the illegal Chinese migrants being held by Canadian immigration could be released within a few days.

19 migrants are appearing at detention hearings in Vancouver this morning.

As soon as they are able to prove their identity and it's found they have no criminal record, they will be freed.

The first 6 migrants have already appeared at the hearing. The adjudicators have ruled they should be detained for another 7 days.

Lawyer Chris Elgin represented the first group this morning. He says the migrants are co-operating and have provided names and contacts back in China. They will be allowed to call families in China later today. Elgin thinks they will be released very quickly because they are co-operating and they are going to obtain identification.

"That information is to be sent to the Canadian embassy in Bejing which will be forwarded to Canada to prove their identity."

Elgin says the migrants haven't been given an opportunity to establish their Identities because there were no phone facilities for them at CFB Esquimalt.

The 19 detainees were transferred from Victoria yesterday. Earlier reports had indicated these 19 were the ringleaders in the smuggling operating. But Elgin says immigration officials have provided little information about his clients.