President Donald Trump has responded to the drowning death of a father and 23-month-old daughter by asserting that these tragedies would be prevented “if the Democrats change the laws.”

The Democrats have refused to work with the president on any meaningful immigration reform or border enforcement, making it more difficult to encourage people not to make the dangerous journey.

Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez, 25, and his daughter Valeria drowned in the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico. Their bodies were discovered on the water bank on Monday. A photo of their bodies quickly went viral on social media.

President Trump was asked about the tragedy while he was leaving DC for the G20 Summit in Japan.

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“I hate it, and it could stop immediately if the Democrats change the laws,” Trump said. “And that father who was probably a wonderful guy with his daughter, things like that wouldn’t happen.”

The image has sparked massive debate, as liberals seek to blame President Trump and Republicans urge Democrats to begin working towards a solution to dissuade people from risking the lives of themselves and their children. Many have argued that if a wall had been in place, people would not be attempting to cross through the dangerous terrain.

The Democrats should change the Loopholes and Asylum Laws so lives will be saved at our Southern Border. They said it was not a crisis at the Border, that it was all just “manufactured.” Now they admit that I was right – But they must do something about it. Fix the Laws NOW! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019

Óscar Ramírez mother, Rosa Ramírez, told the Associated Press that the man was attempting to bring his family across the border for economic reasons — which is not a valid claim for asylum.

“If we had the right laws, that the Democrats are not letting us have, those people wouldn’t be coming up, they wouldn’t be trying,” Trump said of the incident. “The asylum policy of the Democrats is responsible.”