UK and France signed an agreement worth $74 million to ramp up efforts to stop illegal migrants from making perilous journeys across the English Channel

UK and France sign deal on migrant crossings

On Wednesday 27 migrants died when their dinghy capsized as they made a perilous crossing of the English Channel. British and French officials have already started trading the blame.

Worst migrant crossing disaster in English Channel, 27 migrants killed

Britain has announced it will seek harsher sentences for migrants caught entering the country without permission amid a record-breaking surge in arrivals over the English Channel.

UK announces harsher sentences for Channel migrants

French patrol boat rescued 36 migrants aboard two boats "in difficulty" in the Channel, seeking to cross to Britain, maritime authorities said Saturday. The first group of 13 migrants were rescued by a patrol boat after being spotted off the Pas-de-Calais region of northern France.

French boats rescue 36 migrants 'in difficulty' in Channel

Britain on Saturday urged France to get tougher on stopping migrants using the Channel to reach the UK, with one minister saying the crossings were "unacceptably high".

UK urges France for 'tougher action' on Channel migrants