The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will begin reopening cattle ports along the Mexican border next month, more than a year after a dispute over combating a parasite led to a halt on imports. Beginning on August 24, federal officials will open the Douglas, Arizona port of entry to cattle trade and take steps to later reopen New Mexican ports in Santa Teresa and Columbus.
Background of the Dispute
In May 2025, President Donald Trump's administration halted imports of live cattle, horses, and bison over the southern border due to an outbreak of the screwworm fly. The flesh-eating larvae of this parasite can be fatal to cattle. The screwworm fly has been present in Mexico for years but reappeared on US soil in early June, leading to 42 recorded cases since then. The closest active case to the Arizona port is about 325 miles away.
Measures for Reopening
Every animal entering the United States through these ports will undergo a full USDA inspection to ensure it is free of any signs of New World screwworm (NWS). US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins described the closure of southern ports as a 'tough but necessary action' to protect American livestock. The US successfully eradicated NWS in 1966 and managed to eliminate a resurgence in southern Florida in 2017.
