In a statement, NCA deputy director Craig Turner confirmed that "three men have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the UK illegally" as part of the investigation being led by the French. "The men, two Sudanese nationals aged 22 and 19 and a 19-year-old South Sudanese national, were detained between yesterday [Tuesday] evening and this morning by officers from ourselves and our partners in Immigration Enforcement and will be interviewed by NCA investigators at a police station in Kent," he added. The agency said it was "supporting" the French authorities' investigation into the deaths, which happened in the early hours of Tuesday. The arrests come after a seven-year-old girl, a woman and three men died while trying to cross the Channel from France to England on Tuesday. Mr Turner said "a further 55 people have also been identified as having been on board the boat which arrived in the UK yesterday". The incident came hours after the UK parliament approved legislation to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda in a bid to deter others from making the perilous crossing. However, the UK government's policy has been criticised by human rights groups, including the UN, who argue that it breaches international obligations on the protection of human rights and access to asylum. Last year, 29,437 people arrived in the UK after making the journey across the Channel in small boats, down 36% on the record 45,774 in 2022, according to UK government figures. Read Also: Three arrested after death of 3 migrants, including 4-year-old girl (Portuguese version)