Ottawa, March 18 (RHC/Wires) – Canada has detained more migrants from Mexico in the first three months of 2017 than they have annually in each of the past three years.

A report by Reuters says the Canadian Border Services arrested and detained 444 Mexican citizens in the first three months of 2017. This is more than the 410 detained in all of 2016, the 351 in 2015, or the 399 in 2014.

The Canadian Border Services would not provide information on the reasons for the detentions but says that it can detain foreign nationals if their identity is unclear, or if the person is believed to "pose a threat to public safety" or might not appear for a deportation proceeding.

Reuters also found that Mexican nationals are being turned back at the Canadian border in record numbers. More than 313 were denied entry in January 2017, more than the annual totals for each of 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The Reuters report comes as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tried to present his country as more welcoming to migrants and refugees in contrast to his southern neighbor.