U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced on June 30, 2025, risk-based port reopenings for cattle, bison and equines from Mexico beginning as early as July 7, 2025. The USDA, following extensive collaboration between USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) experts and their counterparts in Mexico to increase New World screwworm (NWS) surveillance, detection and eradication efforts, are set to begin a phased reopening of the southern ports starting with Douglas, Arizona.
Progress has been made in several critical areas since the ports were closed on May 11, including resolution of challenges with conducting flights in Mexico that has allowed our team to consistently conduct sterile NWS fly dispersal seven days each week and dispersal of more than 100 million flies each week. There hasn’t been an increase in reported NWS cases in Mexico, nor any northward movement of NWS over the past eight weeks.
“At USDA, we are focused on fighting the New World screwworm’s advancement in Mexico. We have made good progress with our counterparts in Mexico to increase vital pest surveillance efforts and have boosted sterile fly dispersal efforts. 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,” said Rollins. “We are continuing our posture of increased vigilance and will not rest until we are sure this devastating pest will not harm American ranchers.”
The estimated reopening timeline:
- Douglas, Arizona – July 7
- Columbus, New Mexico – July 14
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico – July 21
- Del Rio, Texas – Aug. 18
- Laredo, Texas – Sept. 15
While the Douglas, Arizona, port presents the lowest risk based upon the geography of Sonora and a long history of effective collaboration between APHIS and Sonora on animal health issues, the USDA intends to reopen additional ports in New Mexico and, if it is proven safe to do so, in Texas over the coming weeks. Additional port openings will be based on APHIS’ continuous reevaluation of the number of cases and potential northward movement of NWS, Mexico’s continued efforts to curb illegal animal movements and implementation of further rigorous inspection and treatment protocols.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) supports this decision, sharing, “NCBA and our state affiliates have spent months working with USDA to safeguard the U.S. cattle industry from the threat of New World screwworm. We strongly support USDA’s five-pronged plan to fight the screwworm, which includes bolstering sterile fly production by renovating a facility in Metapa, Mexico, and by building a new fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in south Texas,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “Today’s announcement to reopen key ports of entry is a measured, thoughtful approach by Secretary Rollins to allow some trade while also ensuring the American cattle industry is protected from this pest.”
Woodall added, “We trust Secretary Rollins made this decision with the latest information from USDA staff in Mexico, and we know she will continue holding her counterparts in the Mexican government accountable for eradicating screwworm. NCBA and our state affiliate partners will continue working with USDA and key members of Congress to protect the United States from New World screwworm.”
Find more information on the USDA website.
