USDA reopening some southern ports for livestock trade

Aug 5, 2026 | 2:33 PM

After the New World screwworm fly reached south Texas in June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the parasite’s flesh-eating larvae threatened the cattle industry for the first time in decades.

The USDA has announced a phased reopening of southern U.S. cattle ports, beginning Aug. 24, after three ports of entry were closed.

The Douglas, Ariz., port of entry will reopen to cattle trade, while the USDA takes steps to open the Santa Teresa and Columbus, N.M., ports. Every animal entering the United States through those ports will receive a full USDA inspection for signs of New World screwworm.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said protecting the United States from NWS and pushing the pest out of Mexico and back to the Darien Gap are top priorities for the USDA.

“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,” Rollins said.

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Sonora and Chihuahua have been identified as the lowest-risk Mexican states for New World screwworm because of their well-established inspection programs and their distance from southern Mexico, where most cases are concentrated.

The USDA said the reopening timeline will remain flexible and may be adjusted based on Mexico’s progress in meeting action plan milestones. Openings may be paused if the USDA identifies increased risk in Sonora or Chihuahua.

Since June 3, there have been 44 detections in Texas and New Mexico, including 22 in cattle, 14 in sheep, five in goats and three in dogs.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

by Alice McFarlane

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USDA reopening some southern ports for livestock trade

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