WASHINGTON >> A bill from a group of Democratic and independent senators would let the federal government request a court order that local authorities hold immigrants with or without permanent legal status who are charged with or convicted of violent crimes until they can be transferred to federal custody for deportation proceedings.

The bill introduced Thursday by six Democrats and allied independents reflects a willingness by Democrats to focus on immigration enforcement policy during an election year in which immigration is expected to be a leading issue.

Seizing on the recent killing of nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia, Republicans have called attention to crimes committed by immigrants without permanent legal status. Earlier this month the GOP-controlled House passed legislation, named the “Laken Riley Act,” that would require federal authorities to detain such immigrants who have been accused of theft.

Sponsoring the measure are Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Chris Murphy of Connecticut, as well as independent Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Angus King of Maine. Brown, Baldwin and Casey are facing tough reelection races. Republicans quickly dismissed the bill as an election year ploy. Still, Baldwin, in a statement, spoke of ensuring that “law enforcement has the tools they need to do their jobs.”

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the GOP’s Senate campaign arm, quickly derided the proposal introduced Thursday as an attempt by the vulnerable Democrats to distance themselves from the problems at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“It’s an election year, so they are trying to fool voters by rewriting their records, and it will not work,” said Mike Berg, an for the NRSC spokesman.

Since Republicans led by Donald Trump, their party’s presumptive presidential nominee, rejected a bipartisan proposal to overhaul the U.S. asylum system, Democrats have taken a more aggressive stance on immigration policy. They are pitching to voters that they are willing to tighten immigration laws, but with an approach that preserves civil rights for immigrants. In the House, some Democrats have also formed a group focused on border security.