PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - A group of Chinese migrants facing deportation, have gone on a rampage at the Prince George jail. They smashed windows and furniture, and blockaded the entrance to their dormitory Tuesday. The trouble started when guards removed rice cookers and kettles from the dorm Monday night.

'They have nothing to lose'

Late Tuesday afternoon, Corrections officials said the migrants had agreed to take down the barricades and clean up the mess.

Corrections B.C. spokesperson Sheldon Green blames this latest trouble on about eight leaders. He says some of them were transferred to Prince George after being involved in a similar riot at the Alouette River Correctional Centre in Maple Ridge last month.

The Prince George prisoners were among 600 Chinese boat people who arrived off the B.C. coast last summer. Most made refugee claims, but only a handful of them have been approved.

B.C. Attorney General Andrew Petter says Immigration Canada is responsible for the migrants' unrest, "Part of the problem is they have nothing to lose, and they have deportation orders hanging over their heads, " he says, "and it's in part because the federal process is taking so long."

But Immigration officials blame the Chinese government. The department says 120 migrants are ready to be deported, but those deportations are on hold until China comes through with travel documents.