Thousands of refugees are fleeing America and traveling to Canada in the wake of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

The number of migrants claiming refugee status at the Canadian-US border rose to over 7,000 last year, up from 4,300 in the previous year.

More than 1,400 people have claimed asylum at the border with Quebec since November alone - more than the whole of 2015.

Thousands of refugees are fleeing America and traveling to Canada in the wake of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. One man claiming to be from Turkey is arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Quebec after trying to cross the border

He tried to cross into Canada with a woman believed to be his girlfriend on Thursday. In the past month hundreds have crossed land into Quebec in a bid to get asylum

The unidentified woman was also taken into custody by police guarding the border. More than 1,400 people have claimed asylum at the border with Quebec since November alone - more than the whole of 2015

The latest figures suggest the rise is set to continue, with 452 refugee claims made in the region last month - more than triple the number compared to last year.

Migrants are crossing illegally into Canada before seeking asylum, in order to get round the Safe Third Country Agreement introduced in 2004.

Under the agreement, refugees are sent back to the US if they make claims at official checkpoints, as the majority must claim asylum in the first country they arrive in.

The spike in the number of people illegally crossing into Canada has been put down to Trump's crackdown on immigration.

The Turkish man stands at the crossing and waits to be met by one of the officers

Two women claiming to be from Yemen are confronted by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer as they cross the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec on Wednesday

A man, believed to be from Sudan, is detained by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers after he crossed the border into Canada the same day

A family of three, from Turkey also made the crossing into Hemmingford, Quebec, on Wednesday. In January alone, there have 452 refugee claims made in the region

The number of migrants claiming refugee status at the Canadian-US border rose to over 7,000 last year, up from 4,316 in the previous year

Lorne Waldman, an immigration lawyer based in Toronto, told CBC News: 'As the situation deteriorates in the US, the likelihood that we're going to see more people crossing is very high.'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reinforced the country's welcoming stance towards refugees following the controversy over Trump's travel ban for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.

A family of three from Turkey were among those who crossed the border on foot in the snow into Hemmingford, Quebec on Wednesday.

The village is just across the border from upstate New York.

They, along with at least three other adults, were met by Royal Canadian Mounted Police after making the journey.

The group were detained by officers, in line with standard procedure for refugee claimants.

They will now go before the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada tribunal to apply for refugee status.

A woman from Yemen was seen being detained by a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer on Wednesday while trying to gain asylum

A woman, who says she is from Yemen, was seen crying after being told not to cross the border into Hemmingford, Quebec on Wednesday. She was arrested after entering Canada