LUBBOCK — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the resumption of limited cattle imports from Mexico, a decision that comes amid an ongoing outbreak of a flesh-eating parasite.
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins revealed that the phased reopening of the Douglas, Arizona port will begin on August 24. This reopening is contingent upon Mexico’s compliance with a joint action plan aimed at addressing the New World screwworm.
Rollins emphasized that the previous closure of the ports was crucial for safeguarding the livestock industry. So far, the U.S. has reported 42 cases of the parasite, with nearly all occurrences found in Texas.
“The closure of the Southern ports of entry for the last year has been a tough but necessary action to control the spread of the NWS in Mexico,” Rollins stated. “Thanks to the cooperation of federal, state, local, and industry partners, it is now safe to reopen the Douglas, Arizona port in 30 days to resume the centuries-old movement of cattle.”
The USDA noted that the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua have robust animal health programs and are regarded as the lowest-risk areas for the screwworm. The U.S. will collaborate with these states during the reopening process.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller expressed gratitude to Rollins for addressing his request to reopen the border for cattle imports. However, he also voiced his ongoing concerns about the New World screwworm and suggested that the decision should have been made sooner.
“Resuming cattle importation from Mexico is the right move for ranchers and American consumers,” Miller remarked. “The prolonged closure has already taken a toll on producers, disrupted supply chains, and created uncertainty that could have lasting impacts on the cattle industry.”
Miller further criticized the USDA’s handling of the screwworm issue, asserting that the response has been insufficient and detrimental to producers.
“The USDA has spent more than a year reacting instead of getting ahead of the problem,” he stated. “We cannot afford to rely on half-measures when billions of dollars in livestock production are at stake.”
All southern ports of entry for livestock imports from Mexico were closed by the USDA in May 2025, and this restriction has prevented legal cattle imports from Mexico since then.
