By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Livestock imports from Mexico will soon resume through southern ports under a phased reopening announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The first shipments are expected to begin Aug. 24 through the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry. The department said every animal entering the United States will undergo a full USDA inspection to ensure it shows no signs of New World screwworm (NWS).

“Protecting the United States from NWS and pushing this pest out of Mexico and back to the Darien Gap is a top priority at USDA and has the full attention of the Trump administration,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said. “The closure of the southern ports of entry for the last year has been a tough but necessary action to control the spread of NWS in Mexico and protect the American livestock industry. Thanks to the work across the federal government, as well as state, local, and industry partners, it is now safe to reopen the Douglas, Arizona, port in 30 days to resume the hundreds year old movement of cattle.”

The southern border was closed to livestock imports in May 2025 to help prevent the pest from entering the U.S.

The reopening comes after USDA determined Sonora and Chihuahua remain the lowest-risk Mexican states for New World screwworm. Federal officials cited the states’ established animal health infrastructure, inspection programs and distance from the areas of southern Mexico where most active cases remain concentrated.

Douglas will reopen first while USDA evaluates the effectiveness of the new protocols. If conditions remain favorable, the department will consider reopening the Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, ports to live cattle, bison and horses.

USDA said additional ports will reopen only if Mexico continues meeting milestones outlined in the joint U.S.-Mexico action plan. Reopenings could be paused if inspections or other observations indicate the risk has increased.

The first U.S. case was confirmed in a calf in Zavala County on June 3, and there have been 42 domestic animal cases confirmed as of July 26.

USDA has expanded its response to the pest through a five-pronged plan focused on surveillance, movement protocols, sterile fly dispersal, enhanced preparedness and international collaboration. The department is also increasing sterile fly production in Mexico and constructing a domestic sterile fly production facility in Edinburg to strengthen eradication efforts.

The phased approach balances the need to protect the nation’s livestock herd while allowing producers to move animals through markets, Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said.

“Protecting the livestock industry remains our highest priority, while ensuring producers can conduct business with functioning markets,” Boening said. “Texas Farm Bureau will continue working with USDA, state animal health officials and coalition partners to support science-based decisions that protect our farmers, ranchers and food supply. If the risk changes and a full port closure becomes necessary again, we will not hesitate to advocate for it.”

Boening said the organization remains encouraged by the progress made to eradicate the pest.

“Texas Farm Bureau is encouraged by the momentum of current New World screwworm eradication efforts and the vigilance of Texas livestock producers to rid Texas of the pest once again,” he said.

For more information on New World screwworm detections and USDA efforts, visit screwworm.gov.