VANCOUVER - Two pregnant women who arrived in Canada via cargo ship will remain in detention for at least another week.

The women, who are being held at the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women in Maple Ridge, B.C., took part in an Immigration and Refugee Board hearing today.

The refugee board ordered them to stay in custody while federal government officials work to confirm their identities and scheduled another hearing for Aug. 26.

Malini Dyonisius, a lawyer representing some of the migrants, says the women didn't expect to remain locked up for quite so long.

Dyonisius says the women thought once they arrived in Canada they'd be allowed to go explore the country, and she's letting them know it could be months before they're free.

The MV Sun Sea arrived at CFB Esquimalt near Victoria last Friday carrying 492 Tamil migrants.