trumps immigration orders may be causing more migrants to seek refuge in canada us official says americastrumps immigration orders may be affecting canada us official admits robinsagence francepresse getty imagesmarch 10 2017ottawa john f kelly the american homeland security secretary acknowledged on friday that president trumps executive orders on immigration and the perception that the united states was now inhospitable toward muslims may be causing more migrants to seek refuge in canadathe growing number of refugee claimants who are entering canada by illegally crossing from the united states was among the issues mr kelly discussed with members of prime minister justin trudeaus cabinet during a oneday visit to ottawaunder an agreement between the countries people who attempt to make a refugee claim in canada by legally entering from the united states are turned away a loophole however allows people who enter canada illegally or as some prefer irregularly to claim they are refugees in most cases they receive a hearing to assess their casemr kelly said that about 2000 people had recently made such crossings and that they generally seemed to have been people who had legal immigration status in the united statesduring an interview with the canadian broadcasting corporation mr kelly said that both countries were still trying to get our arms around the situation and its causes when asked by the interviewer if it was the product of the executive orders as well as the perception that muslims were no longer welcome in the united states mr kelly said it could be i think you could draw that conclusion im undecidedhe added its something i dont quite understand but it could bebut speaking earlier in the day with reporters ralph goodale canadas public safety minister who hosted mr kellys visit suggested that the crossings were not related to any actions by mr trumpone thing that is clear from at least some of the data is that the migration began or at least the planning for the migration began many months ago mr goodale said without offering any details and suggesting that the situation started almost a year agowhen asked what canada wanted the united states to do about the crossings mr goodale suggested that american officials were largely powerless noting that most of the migrants apparently had legal status in the united states mr goodale said there was no way to track or restrain their travel within the countrylike mr kelly mr goodale said the main priority on the issue for both countries was to develop a better understanding of itthe two men also offered similar comments on highly publicized recent reports about canadians who have been turned away at the united states border without according to those people being given any reason for the action some of the people turned back have said they were questioned about their religious views or opinions about mr trumpthis week manpreet kooner of montreal who was born in canada but whose parents are from india said she was held for six