The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing a coordinated, phased reopening of southern cattle ports, contingent on Mexico’s adherence to the Joint Action Plan. Beginning August 24, 2026, USDA will open the Douglas, AZ port of entry to cattle trade, while simultaneously initiating the operational steps necessary for subsequent openings at the Santa Teresa, NM, and Columbus, NM, ports. 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).
“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,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “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.”
For many years, Sonora and Chihuahua have maintained a strong animal health infrastructure program, built on the backs of successful animal disease control measures. While the rest of Mexico has not been able to stop the spread of the screwworm or stop legal and illegal movement, Sonora and Chihuahua do have a track record of success in these spaces, giving USDA confidence that they can do the job.
USDA proposes a phased reopening of Southern ports to livestock trade, contingent upon satisfactory progress on priority Action Plan milestones.
- Sonora and Chihuahua are identified as the lowest-risk Mexican states for New World screwworm due to their strong, well-established inspection programs and their geographic distance from southern Mexico, where most cases are concentrated.
- On August 24, 2026, USDA will reopen the Douglas, AZ, port, which borders Sonora, to livestock trade. The closest active case to the Douglas, AZ, port is ~325 miles detected on July 22, 2026. After evaluating the success of the initial reopening and potential impacts or risk assessment changes, APHIS will then consider reopening the Santa Teresa, NM, and Columbus, NM, ports to live cattle, bison, and horses.
- The reopening timeline will remain flexible and may be adjusted based on Mexico’s progress in meeting Action Plan milestones and addressing critical issues.
- The opening of ports may be paused if USDA identifies increased risk in Sonora or Chihuahua via post-opening audits or other observations/information.
Reaction to the USDA Announcement
Cattle Groups as well as the Meat Institute are pleased with word that USDA will allow Mexican Feeder Cattle Imports to Resume in August.
According to the weekly newsletter electronically published by the Texas Cattle Feeders, ” “This is great news,” said TCFA Chairman Laphe LaRoe. “We know this decision was not made lightly. It is the result of months of rigorous work and firm diplomacy on the part of USDA to implement effective measures to combat the spread of the New World Screwworm in the U.S. and Mexico and establish scientific protocols to ensure the safe resumption of feeder cattle trade with Mexico.”
*******************
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Stephen Diebel today issued the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced plans to resume live cattle imports at the port of entry in Douglas, Arizona, within the next 30 days, followed by the phased reopening of two additional ports of entry in New Mexico:
“Our members need the ability to maintain commerce, but they also need assurance that every reasonable safeguard is in place to reduce the risk of New World screwworm. USDA’s decision to conditionally reopen limited ports of entry to cattle imports through a phased approach reflects many months of work by USDA, state partners and cattle raisers to strengthen the nation’s response to New World screwworm.
The temporary closure of the border provided valuable time to strengthen surveillance, expand sterile fly production and distribution, and implement protocols needed to manage New World screwworm. That work has laid the foundation for this measured, phased reopening.
Our priority has always been twofold: protecting the U.S. cattle herd and wildlife while ensuring cattle raisers can continue to operate and markets can function. TSCRA will continue closely monitoring the situation and will not hesitate to urge the immediate closure of these ports should science indicate the risk has changed.
We want to thank Secretary Rollins, our federal and state partners, and our members for their continued commitment to this issue, and we look forward to continuing the fight alongside them to eradicate this pest.”
*************************
Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) released a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement that they will be reopening the port of entry at Douglas, Ariz. to shipments of cattle in 30 days. This is the first part of a phased reopening that will include ports of entry in Columbus and Santa Teresa, N.M. in the second phase, after further biosecurity assessments.
“Secretary Rollins and her team at USDA have been fighting the spread of New World screwworm with an aggressive five-point plan and comprehensive response playbook. Their work – along with the diligence of cattle producers in border states – bought the United States valuable time to improve our domestic readiness. The whole-of-government response has put us in a strong position to begin safely and gradually reopening our southern border to cattle shipments,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “This decision will help normalize business for cattle operations throughout the border states and Southern Plains. We appreciate the continued work of USDA to support American producers and the U.S. cattle industry.”
**************************
The Meat Institute is also happy with the news.
The Meat Institute today released the following statement about the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) plans to resume imports of Mexican cattle following an outbreak of New World Screwworm:
“USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has provided steady, science-driven leadership by pairing innovative dispersal of sterile flies and significant federal investment to protect the U.S. livestock and poultry industry,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “We support a careful, phased reopening of the border that reflects both vigilance and confidence in our response plans.
“Importing cattle from Mexico allows beef packers to better meet consumer demand given the tight supply of US cattle. We will continue to support efforts to retain heifers and expand the herd as the best way to address the high price of beef for consumers.”
