Cattle Imports Resume from Mexico in July
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the phased reopening of select southern ports to livestock imports from Mexico starting July 7, 2025. This decision comes after significant improvements in the surveillance and control of the New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico, which led to a temporary port closure in May 2025.
The first port to reopen will be Douglas, Arizona, followed by ports in New Mexico and Texas, depending on continued safety assessments. The schedule includes Columbus, NM (July 14), Santa Teresa, NM (July 21), Del Rio, TX (August 18), and Laredo, TX (September 15).
Progress has been made in sterile fly dispersal operations, now deploying over 100 million sterile NWS flies weekly. Five USDA teams have also visited Mexico to assess efforts and provide feedback. No significant rise in NWS cases or northward movement has been reported in the past two months.
Only cattle and bison born and raised in Sonora or Chihuahua or treated as per NWS protocol in these regions will be allowed entry. Equines from any part of Mexico can also be imported but must undergo a 7-day quarantine.