Calling it a matter of national security, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., wants border security included in an appropriations bill for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

Capito wants border funding and immigration policy changes to be included in a final appropriations bill.

“With 2.4 million (migrants) coming across the border last year and with the highest October ever, and the highest month ever in September — I mean these numbers are just exceedingly way, way over what could have ever been predicted coming across the southern border,” Capito said during her weekly virtual media briefing. “And we don’t know who they are. We know some of them are on the terror watch list. We know some of them are from countries that have terrorists.”

Despite the threat of terrorists and drug traffickers crossing the border, Capito said President Joe Biden keeps allowing more and more migrants to enter the country illegally.

“So in order for our national security interests to be served, we must have a four-prong approach here,” Capito said. “Israel, the border, Ukraine and Taiwan.”

While some Republicans have soured on the idea of the United States continuing to finance Ukraine’s war with Russia, Capito said she still supports American funding for Ukraine — along with funding to support Israel’s war with Hamas.

“Well, I am a supporter and have vocalized my support for continuing the support of Ukraine because of the geo-political aspect of pushing (Russian President Vladimir) Putin back, weakening his army, keeping him from entering a NATO country and also supporting a democracy,” Capito said. “So I think that is important. Israel with the terrorist attacks also needs our help. They are a long and strong ally.”

Meanwhile, Capito said China continues to encroach on Taiwan. If Ukraine were to fall to Russia, Capito said China would then likely “make a big move” on Taiwan.

However, Capito said any funding bill must have “significant immigration policy changes” before she will vote for it.

“This is the leverage I think where we can make changes to our immigration policies,” she said, adding, “... it must have the border policies incorporated into it, which I think is significant to our own national security.”

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Capito said she isn’t optimistic that a rail safety bill or permitting reform bill will pass before the year’s end.

“Well, I’ve been following permitting reform very close,” she said. “It is in my committee where I’m the ranking member at EPW, and it also crossed over into Senator Manchin’s committee on Energy and Natural Resources. So we both have an interest here and I think that we are trying to push some permitting reform so we can have more grid development to handle the new electric economy we are moving toward.”

Meanwhile, a rail safety bill hasn’t passed Congress although one piece of legislation did make it out of a Senate committee. Capito opposed that bill because she felt some of its provisions regarding inspections and training were unrealistic.

Ten months have passed since the railroad disaster in East Palestine, Ohio.

“I think we can get consensus here — I really do,” Capito said of a rail safety bill. “I just don’t think it has been high enough on the priority list of some people to push this through.”

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Capito on Friday joined 24 of her Senate colleagues, led by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in demanding answers over the Biden administration’s lack of a cohesive Iran strategy, particularly in light of the recent decision to extend an Iran sanctions waiver.

Capito said as Israel continues to battle Iran-backed Hamas and the regime’s proxies increase their attacks against U.S. personnel in the Middle East, the Biden administration on Nov. 13 issued a waiver allowing Iran access to approximately $10 billion.