- USDA will reopen the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry to cattle imports on August 24, 2026, as the first step in a phased reopening of southern livestock ports.
- Additional ports in Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, will be considered after USDA evaluates the success of the initial reopening.
- Every animal entering through reopened ports will undergo a full USDA inspection for signs of New World screwworm (NWS).
- The phased reopening remains contingent on Mexico meeting milestones outlined in the bilateral Joint Action Plan to control and eradicate NWS.
- USDA said Sonora and Chihuahua remain the lowest-risk Mexican states because of their established animal health and inspection programs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to begin reopening southern ports for livestock imports, marking the first significant easing of restrictions imposed to protect the U.S. cattle industry from the spread of New World screwworm (NWS).
The first phase will begin on August 24, 2026, when the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry reopens to cattle imports from Sonora, Mexico. USDA officials said the decision follows ongoing cooperation with Mexican authorities under a Joint Action Plan aimed at containing and pushing the pest farther south.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said preventing New World screwworm from reaching the United States remains a top USDA priority. She noted that while the year-long closure of southern ports created challenges for cross-border livestock trade, the restrictions were necessary to protect the U.S. livestock industry while response efforts intensified in Mexico.
Phased reopening tied to ongoing risk assessments
USDA emphasized that reopening additional ports will depend on continued progress in Mexico’s control efforts. Following an evaluation of operations at Douglas, the department will determine whether to reopen the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and Columbus, New Mexico, ports to live cattle, bison, and horses.
The timeline remains flexible and could change if disease conditions worsen or if Mexico falls behind on key Action Plan commitments. USDA also said port operations could be paused if post-opening audits or surveillance identify increased risk in Sonora or Chihuahua.
Enhanced inspections remain in place
Every animal entering the United States through reopened ports will receive a comprehensive USDA inspection to verify it is free of signs of New World screwworm.
USDA cited the strong animal health infrastructure and inspection programs in the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua as key factors supporting the phased reopening. Officials said those states have maintained effective disease control measures and are geographically separated from southern Mexico, where most active NWS cases remain concentrated.
According to USDA, the closest reported active New World screwworm case to the Douglas port was approximately 325 miles away, with the case detected on July 22, 2026.
Information sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture press release.
