Jailed US missionaries in Haiti could be freed

A Haitian judge says ten Americans charged with kidnapping, could be released as early as Thursday.

The 10 US missionaries were arrested last month, trying to take more than 30 children into the Dominican Republic without proper paperwork.

They denied any intentional wrongdoing, saying they were only trying to help orphans left destitute by the quake. It's since been revealed, many of the children still have living parents.

The court heard from some of them, who said they couldn't provide for their children and gave them up willingly hoping to offer them a better future.

The US government has made clear it does not want to interfere.

Corinna Lankford, one of the 10 U.S. missionaries accused of kidnapping children, arrives at a Judicial Police office in Port-au-Prince February 10, 2010. REUTERS/Kena Betancur