DRESSED in prison uniforms of grey jeans and T-shirts, segregated from the rest of the inmates, the saddest victims of the gangs getting rich from trading human flesh stumble over English words and dream of freedom.
One boy is only nine years old, while most of the others are in their teens. These are the child passengers seized from the hell ships taking Chinese immigrants from the mainland to the United States.
More than 140, all under 18, are locked in Los Angeles area juvenile halls and facing an uncertain future. Religious and social leaders, political campaigners and members of California's Chinese community are visiting them with everything from music tapes and food to Chinese-language Bibles.
And Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) officials are scratching their heads wondering what to do, even as staff at the detention centres are finding the frequencies of Mandarin-language radio and television stations.
Earlier this month, 123 boys and 18 girls were being held in three Los Angeles County facilities. Thirteen have been released on bail.
Chinese community leaders who have visited them have harrowing tales.
Hongkong-born social worker David Lee says the children are trapped by bureaucracy and language barriers, although they are well treated.
