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US Reopens Border to Mexican Cattle Amid Parasite Fight
30 Jul
Summary
- Mexico cattle imports resume Aug. 24 after an 18-month screwworm halt.
- USDA Secretary visited Douglas, Arizona port to oversee reopening.
- Nine active screwworm cases remain after widespread containment efforts.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will resume importing Mexican cattle on August 24, marking a phased reopening of the border after an 18-month hiatus. This closure was initially implemented to prevent the spread of the New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that had re-emerged in southern Mexico in November 2024. The parasite’s spread into Texas, even with closed southern ports, had disrupted the cattle industry and contributed to rising beef prices.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins visited the Douglas, Arizona Port of Entry to announce the resumption of trade. She cited successful containment efforts, including sterile fly drops and medication advancements, which have limited active screwworm cases to just nine in Texas since its initial detection on June 3. The Secretary expressed confidence in the Sonoran cattle industry's disease control programs, deeming the reopening safe and manageable.
The decision to close ports of entry was a strategic move to incentivize Mexico's participation in containment efforts, a tactic that proved effective. While the reopening in Douglas is expected to be a controlled pilot, it is unlikely to significantly alter the U.S. cattle market. The USDA remains vigilant, prepared to close the border immediately if containment measures prove insufficient.
