WINNIPEG, Manitoba/OTTAWA (Reuters) - Nearly half of Canadians want to deport people who are illegally crossing into Canada from the United States, and a similar number disapprove of how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is handling the influx, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Monday.

A significant minority, four out of 10 respondents, said the border crossers could make Canada "less safe," underlining the potential political risk for Trudeau's Liberal government.

The increasing flow of hundreds of asylum-seekers of African and Middle Eastern origin from the United States in recent months has become a contentious issue in Canada.

There has been broad bipartisan support for high levels of legal immigration for decades in Canada. But Trudeau has come under pressure over the flow of the illegal migrants. He is questioned about it every time he appears in parliament, from opponents on the left, who want more asylum-seekers to be allowed in, and critics on the right, who say the migrants pose a potential security risk.

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17 PHOTOS Fleeing America for Canada See Gallery Fleeing America for Canada A man from Yemen crosses the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A man from Yemen is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A man from Yemen is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A woman who told police that she and her family were from Sudan is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after arriving by taxi and walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 12, 2017. Picture taken February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY A man who told police he was from Mauritania drops on his knees as he arrives at the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 13, 2017. Picture taken February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A man who told police that he was from Mauritania is helped up a hill and taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 13, 2017. Picture taken February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A man who told police he was from Sudan is confronted by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer as he attempts to cross the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 13, 2017. Picture taken February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A man who told police that he was from Sudan is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after arriving by taxi and walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 13, 2017. Picture taken February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A family from Yemen crosses the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi Luggage sits on the United States side of the border after a woman who told police that she and her family were from Sudan is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after arriving by taxi and walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 12, 2017. Picture taken February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A woman who told police that she and her family were from Sudan is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after arriving by taxi and walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 12, 2017. Picture taken February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A family from Yemen crosses the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A family from Yemen is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A woman who told police that she and her family were from Sudan is taken into custody by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer after arriving by taxi and walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 12, 2017. Picture taken February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi A man who told police he was from Mauritania is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 13, 2017. Picture taken February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi The children of a woman who told police that she and her family were from Sudan are placed in a vehicle as they are all taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after arriving by taxi and walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 12, 2017. Picture taken February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers stand on a hill looking over the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Canadians appeared to be just as concerned about illegal immigration as their American neighbors, according to the poll, which was conducted between March 8-9. Some 48 percent of Canadians said they supported "increasing the deportation of people living in Canada illegally." (For graphics on asylum process, immigration poll see http://tmsnrt.rs/2nyY8CJ)

When asked specifically about the recent border crossings from the United States, the same number - 48 percent - said Canada should "send these migrants back to the U.S." Another 36 percent said Canada should "accept these migrants" and let them seek refugee status.

In the United States, where President Donald Trump was elected partly on his promise to boost deportations, 50 percent of adults supported "increasing the deportation of illegal immigrants," according to a separate Reuters/Ipsos poll that was conducted during the same week in the United States.

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Illegal migrants interviewed by Reuters in Canada said they had been living legally in the United States and had applied for asylum there. But they had fled to Canada for fear of being caught up in Trump's immigration crackdown.

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In the poll, support for deporting the border crossers was strongest among men, adults who do not have a college degree, people who are older and those with higher levels of income.

"There are so many people in the world who want to come in and go through the right channels," said Greg Janzen, elected leader of a Manitoba border municipality that has seen hundreds of border crossers. "That's what's pissing most people off. These guys are jumping the border," he said.

Forty-six percent of Canadians feel the influx would have no effect on safety, while 41 percent said it would make Canada less safe, according to the poll.

"Refugees are much more welcomed when we have gone and selected them ourselves as a country, as opposed to refugees who have chosen us," said Janet Dench, executive director of Canadian Council for Refugees.

Of those polled, 46 percent disagreed with how Trudeau was handling the situation, 37 percent agreed, while 17 percent did not know. In January, a separate Ipsos poll found that 59 percent of Canadians approved of Trudeau, while 41 percent disapproved.

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47 PHOTOS Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau through the years See Gallery Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau through the years Justin Trudeau and bride Sophie Gregoire leave the Sainte-Madeleine D'Outremont Church, Montreal, after their wedding ceremony here, May 28, 2005. The car a 1959 Mercedez 300SL, was Pierre Trudeua's car and was recently renovated and given its original silver grey colour. (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images) With son Justin in her lap; Margaret Trudeau; wife of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau; sits in a car outside the Inn on the Park just before a lunchtime visit to the home of friends. Star photographers Dick Loek had been waiting in the Don Mills hotel's lobby hoping the family might emerge. Mrs. Trudeau; with Justin in her arms; walked to her car accompanied by three security men. At the time; her husband was visiting an Etobicoke Ukrainian home for the elderly. (Photo by Dick Loek/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Justin steals the show. Margaret Trudeau; the Prime Minister's wife; and son Justin walk along the lake at Mont Tremblant. (Photo by Graham Bezant/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Tracking the track stars. Drama of the pole-vaulting at Toronto Star Maple Leaf Indoor Games last night in Maple Leaf Gardens captured Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his wife; Margaret; but their 2-year-old son; Justin; was a little overwhelmed by it all. Although their two-day visit to Metro was on a crowded schedule; Trudeaus stayed 'at games for more than an hour. They had hoped to st for all events; but Justin tired and wouldn't sleep they left before halfway mark. (Photo by Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Justin Trudeaus (R) (Photo by Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Canadian Prime Minister Pierre E. Trudeau joins sons Justin, Sacha, and Michel in this photo for his 1980 Christmas card. Justin and Sacha will be nine and seven years, respectively on Christmas Day. Michel is five



(Bettmann via Getty Images) Justin Trudeau pictured at age 14 in December, 1986. (Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Justin Trudeau, the eldest son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, speaks about the loss of his brother Michel as he is accompanied by his mother Margaret, as they launch an awareness campaign with the Canadian Avalanche Foundation, January 14 on Mt. Seymour. As a result of the loss of Michel in an Avalanche accident in 1998, the Trudeau family is helping support avalanche safety awareness. (Reuters Photographer / Reuters) Sacha(L) and Justin Trudeau(C) and former wife Margaret Kemper(R) of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau look over his casket in the Hall of Honor on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada 30 September, 2000. The former prime minister died 28 September after a a battle with prostate cancer. (AARON HARRIS/AFP/Getty Images) Justin Trudeau (L) and his brother Alexandre, sons of the late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, pose with a stamp honouring their father at it's unveiling in Montreal, July 3, 2001. Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada's most popular politicians, died in September 2000. (Shaun Best / Reuters) Justin Trudeau speaks at the countdown to World Youth Day 2002at Nathan Philips Square. The international youth conference and papal visit to Canada from July 18-28, 2002 will be held at the old Downsview airport. (Photo by Jim Ross/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Justin Trudeau, on stage, during the tribute to Jean Chretien at the ACC. (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet (R) greets Justin Trudeau, son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, at the Kalachakra Teachings at the Sky Dome in Toronto, April 25, 2004. His Holiness will confer the Kalachakra Initiation for World Peace, the largest Buddhist ritual and initiation regularly conferred by the Dalai Lama. (REUTERS/Mike Cassese MC/HB) Justin and Alexandre Trudeau stand by the plaque which offically renames Dorval Airport in honor of their late father former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau in Montreal on September 9, 2003. The new name "The Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport" will be effective January 1, 2004. (REUTERS/Christinne Muschi) Justin Trudeau and bride Sophie Gregoire share a kiss as Margaret Trudeau looks on as they leave the Sainte-Madeleine D'Outremont Church, Montreal, after their wedding ceremony here, May 28, 2005. (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Justin Trudeau introduces Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy at the Liberal convention in Montreal, December 1, 2006. (REUTERS/Shaun Best) Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy and Justin Trudeau, son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, attend the Liberal convention in Montreal, November 29, 2006. The Liberal Party will elect a new leader later in the week. (REUTERS/J.P. Moczulski) Justin Trudeau, son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, talks to supporters after winning the Liberal nomination for the Montreal riding of Papineau April 29, 2007. (REUTERS/Shaun Best) Justin Trudeau, son of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and candidate for the Liberal Party in Montreal, is seen during an interview in his campaign office on October 12, 2008 in Montreal, two days before the federal elections on October 14. One of three sons of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, prime minister of Canada from 1968 to 1979, and 1980 to 1984, Justin Trudeau swapped a teaching career for a chance to represent his father's Liberals in the Montreal electoral district of Papineau, and win it back from the separatists who took it in 2006. (DAVID BOILY/AFP/Getty Images) Mia Farrow and Justin Trudeau (Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Liberal MP Justin Trudeau is pictured during an event to mark the end of 'Movember' on Parliament Hill in Ottawa November 30, 2010. A group of MPs and staff who grew moustaches during the month of November raised more than CDN $30,000 for prostate cancer research. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie) Canadian Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff serves pancakes with Liberal MP Justin Trudeau as they attend a pancake breakfast in Frampton, July 21, 2010. (REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger) Lui Temkovski the Liberal candidate for Oak Ridges-Markham gets a visit from Justin Trudeau during his Liberal Party's auxiliary tour around the GTA today. They go mainstreeting in the town of Markham. (Photo by David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Liberal Party leadership candidate Justin Trudeau speaks to supporters at a rally in Mississauga, October 4, 2012. (REUTERS/Mike Cassese) Liberal leadership candidate Justin Trudeau smiles during his speech at the Dashmesh Culture Senior Citizen Society in Calgary, Alberta, October 3, 2012. Calgary was his first stop after announcing he will seek the leadership of the Liberal party of Canada. (REUTERS/Todd Korol) Sophie Gregoire and Justin Trudeau arrive at the 'Midnight's Children' Premiere at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on September 9, 2012 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) Liberal Member of Parliament Justin Trudeau meets liberal supporters at a Stampede breakfast during the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta, July 7, 2012. (REUTERS/Todd Korol) Justin Trudeau speaks as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, 2013 Liberal leader Justin Trudeau dumps a bucket of ice water onto Liberal MP Sean Casey for the ALS ice bucket challenge during a break in the Federal Liberal summer caucus meetings in Edmonton August 19, 2014. (REUTERS/Dan Riedlhuber/File Photo) French President Francois Hollande welcomes Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau prior to attending a meeting at the Elysee Presidential Palace on November 29, 2015 in Paris, France. France will host climate change conference COP21 in Paris from November 30 to December 11, 2015. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images) Canada's Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau arrives at a ceremony to commemorate the October 2014 attack on Parliament Hill, at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada October 22, 2015. The event also honoured the lives of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo, two soldiers killed in a pair of separate attacks police said were carried out independently by radical recent converts to Islam. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie) Canadian Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau waits with his son Xavier to cast his ballot in Montreal on October 19, 2015. The first of 65,000 polling stations opened Monday on Canada's Atlantic seaboard for legislative elections that pitted Prime Minister Stephen's Tories against liberal and social democratic parties. Up to 26.4 million electors are expected to vote in 338 electoral districts. Some 3.6 million already cast a ballot in advance voting a week ago, and the turnout Monday is expected to be high. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, visits Paul Brown Boxfit boxing gym for a photo opportunity on August 6, 2015 in Toronto. (Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Premier Kathleen Wynne joined Liberal Party of Canada leader Justin Trudeau for an election rally in Toronto Centre Monday night. (Lucas Oleniuk/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau waves to supporters as he arrives for the first federal leaders debate of the 2015 Canadian election campaign on August 6, 2015 in Toronto, Canada. The federal election is set for October 19, 2015. (GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/Getty Images) Canadian Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie wave on stage in Montreal on October 20, 2015 after winning the general elections. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) Liberal leader Justin Trudeau meets with the editorial board at the Toronto Star in Toronto. (Todd Korol/Toronto Star via Getty Images) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is greeted by British Prime Minister David Cameron prior to their meeting in Downing Street on November 25, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre as they visit the site of the Universite de Montreal's new Science Complex in Montreal, December 16, 2016. (REUTERS/Christinne Muschi) Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talks with Prince George following the arrival of Britain's Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the Victoria International Airport for the start of their eight day royal tour to Canada in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, September 24, 2016. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie) Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden during a meeting in Trudeau's office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, December 9, 2016. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie) Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, December 12, 2016. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie) Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and US President Barack Obama exit the Hall of Honour on Parliament Hill following the North American Leaders Summit in Ottawa, June 28, 2016. (CHRIS ROUSSAKIS/AFP/Getty Images) (L-R) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Prince William the Duke of Cambridge, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, and Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge take a walk at the Kitsilano Coast Guard station, in Vancouver, British Columbia on September 25, 2016. (JONATHAN HAYWARD/AFP/Getty Images) Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a meeting with representatives of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 10, 2017. (REUTERS/Chris Wattie) Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks to a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 20, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 20, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Trudeau faces no immediate threat, since the next elections are not until 2019. Trudeau's office declined to comment on the poll, as did the opposition Conservative Party.

Brian Lee Crowley, head of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute public policy think-tank, said the number of illegal migrants could spike as the weather warms, and "if people become convinced there's a large uncontrolled flow of illegal immigrants, I think that will be a very serious political issue for the government."

Canadian authorities dismiss the idea they are being lax.

Dan Brien, a spokesman for Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, said "trying to slip across the border in an irregular manner is not a 'free' ticket to Canada," noting that all asylum-seekers were detained.

"If they are found to be inadmissible without a valid claim, deportation procedures are begun," he said by email when asked about the poll.

SEE ALSO: Canadian refugees embrace their new home by learning how to curl

According to a separate Ipsos poll in Canada, 23 percent of Canadians listed immigration control as among the top national issues in March, up from 17 percent in December. It ranks behind healthcare, taxes, unemployment and poverty as top concerns.

The Canadian government set an immigration target of 300,000 for 2017, or just under 1 percent of the population, the same level as 2016. It reduced the 2017 target for resettled refugees to 25,000 from 44,800 in 2016, a year when it welcomed 25,000 refugees from Syria.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English and French throughout Canada. It included responses from 1,001 people who were at least 18 years old. Individual responses were weighted according to the latest population estimates in Canada, so that the results reflect the entire population.

The poll has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 4 percentage points.

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