USDA to Reopen Arizona Port for Mexican Cattle Imports on August 24, Ending More Than Yearlong Screwworm Ban

The ban's timeline

The U.S. border to Mexican cattle was first closed in November 2024 after a case of New World screwworm was detected in southern Mexico. The Trump administration briefly lifted the restriction after the 2025 inauguration, but reinstated the ban within months as the parasite moved north. The closure, which lasted more than a year, cut off a key source of feeder cattle for American feedlots and contributed to record-high beef prices.

Reopening details

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on Friday that the Douglas, Arizona port of entry will resume cattle trade on August 24, 2026. The USDA also initiated the operational steps needed to open two New Mexico ports, Santa Teresa and Columbus. No Texas border crossings are included in the current plan, and the agency cautioned it could close any of the ports again if the pest threat worsens.

Protecting the United States from [New World screwworm] 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.

Rollins acknowledged the economic pressure but described the closure as a necessary measure. "The closure of the Southern ports of entry for the last year has been a tough but necessary action to control the spread of [New World screwworm] in Mexico and protect the American livestock industry."

Political and industry pressure

Rollins had previously resisted calls from Republican lawmakers and cattle producers to reopen the border sooner, citing biosecurity concerns. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a vocal critic of the pace of the response, welcomed the reversal but argued it came too late.

Resuming cattle importation from Mexico is the right move for ranchers and American consumers, but it's a decision that should have been made sooner. While I'm pleased to see this important trade relationship restored, the prolonged closure has already taken a toll on producers, disrupted supply chains, and created uncertainty that could have lasting consequences for the cattle industry.

Miller added that "the pace and scale of the screwworm response have not matched the threat." Rollins has publicly criticised Miller during the outbreak, sharpening the political friction over border management.

Beef market impact

Record-high beef prices have intensified pressure on the administration to act. The resumption of Mexican cattle imports is expected to ease supply tightness in the U.S. packing industry. The Wall Street Journal first reported the planned reopening, which the White House views as a way to tamp down consumer costs without relaxing biosecurity protocols.

What's next

With the 30‑day countdown underway, USDA officials will monitor screwworm surveillance data in Mexico. The agency made clear that the August 24 reopening is conditional, and ports could shut again if the parasite's advance continues. Meanwhile, preparations at Santa Teresa and Columbus will proceed in parallel, though no timeline for their actual opening has been set.