Key Takeaways
- USDA to begin reopening U.S.-Mexico livestock ports starting July 7, 2025
- Initial reopening begins with Douglas, Arizona, following enhanced pest control progress
- Reopenings tied to surveillance, fly dispersal, and cooperation with Mexican authorities
- Only livestock meeting strict New World Screwworm (NWS) protocols will be eligible
- USDA continues phased risk assessment for ports in New Mexico and Texas
USDA Plans Controlled Livestock Trade Resumption from Mexico
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin a phased reopening of ports for the import of cattle, bison, and equines from Mexico starting July 7, 2025. This decision follows intensive bilateral efforts to manage the threat posed by New World Screwworm (NWS) and marks a cautious return to livestock trade through key southern border entry points.
The reopening will begin with the Douglas, Arizona port, recognized as the lowest-risk site due to its proximity to Sonora and a history of successful cross-border cooperation. Additional ports in New Mexico and Texas will follow in the coming weeks, contingent upon ongoing risk assessments and compliance with enhanced animal health protocols.
Progress in NWS Control Enables First Steps Toward Reopening
The port closures on May 11 were prompted by concerns over the spread of NWS, a pest that poses a serious threat to North American livestock. Since then, USDA and Mexico’s counterpart agency, SENASICA, have improved sterile fly dispersal operations—now exceeding 100 million sterile flies per week—and increased field surveillance. APHIS deployed five technical teams to Mexico to observe and support eradication measures.
“We have made good progress with our counterparts in Mexico to increase vital pest surveillance efforts and have boosted sterile fly dispersal efforts,” said Secretary Rollins. “These quick actions by the Trump Administration have improved the conditions to allow the phased reopening of select ports on the Southern Border to livestock trade.”
Port Reopening Timeline Based on Risk and Inspection Protocols
The USDA provided the following tentative timeline for port reopenings, each subject to post-reopening evaluation to prevent adverse effects:
- Douglas, AZ – July 7
- Columbus, NM – July 14
- Santa Teresa, NM – July 21
- Del Rio, TX – August 18
- Laredo, TX – September 15
Future port openings will depend on NWS case monitoring, evidence of containment, and enforcement of animal movement controls by Mexican authorities.
Eligibility Limited to Compliant Regions and Protocols
To mitigate risk, only cattle and bison born and raised in Sonora or Chihuahua—or treated per USDA’s NWS protocols upon entering those states—will be eligible for import. For the Del Rio and Laredo ports to reopen as scheduled, states like Coahuila and Nuevo Leon must also adopt equivalent protocols.
The USDA emphasized that strict compliance is essential to protect American ranchers from the potentially devastating effects of NWS infestations. Additional training and outreach efforts are underway in Mexico to bolster awareness and implementation of pest mitigation measures.
USDA’s Long-Term Strategy to Restore NWS Barrier and Bolster Fly Supply
In a related development, Mexico has initiated renovations of its sterile fruit fly facility in Metapa, aiming to increase production capacity to 60–100 million sterile NWS flies per week by July 2026. This expansion is critical for reestablishing the NWS barrier at the Darien Gap, which helps protect the entire North American continent from reinfestation.
8 Comments