Live animal imports suspended along Southern Border

On May 11, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced live cattle, horse and bison imports would be suspended immediately at U.S. ports of entry along the Southern Border due to the continued, rapid spread of New World screwworm (NWS).

“I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse and bison imports through U.S. Southern Border ports of entry effective immediately,” Rollins states. “The last time this devastating pest invaded America, it took 30 years for our cattle industry to recover. This cannot happen again.” 

Rollins says suspension will be in effect on a month-by-month basis.

Eradication efforts 

Since the first case of NWS was detected in Mexico in November 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), under Rollins’ guidance, has been leading the charge on efforts to eradicate the pest and keep it from crossing the U.S. border. 

According to a May 11 USDA press release, these efforts include a three-pronged approach, including active field surveillance, education and outreach to ensure prevention, treatment and early detection; controlling animal movement to limit spread and utilizing sustained sterile insect dispersal. 

Despite these efforts, data from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service indicates there have been over 1,400 NWS detections across Mexico as of May 9, with active cases in Chiapas, Tabasco and as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, which are only about 700 miles away from the U.S. border and serve as a major cattle movement corridor. 

“Suspending livestock transport through southern ports of entry will assist in the effort to limit northbound transport of NWS through livestock commerce and will allow the U.S. to reassess whether current mitigation standards remain sufficient,” reads the USDA news brief. “It is important to note the northward spread of NWS is possible through natural wildlife movements, including wildlife which transit the border region without impediment.” 

Rollins comments, “Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Julio Antonio Berdegué Sacristan and I have worked closely on the NWS response. However, it is my duty to take all steps within my control to protect the livestock industry in the U.S. from this devastating pest. The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance. Once we see increased surveillance and eradication efforts – and the positive results of those actions – we remain committed to opening the border for livestock trade.”

“This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety,” she reiterates. 

Additionally, the agency notes it will utilize USDA Tick Riders – employees who patrol the Texas-Mexico border on horseback – to observe livestock and wildlife along the Southern Border, especially between ports of entry, to monitor for the presence of NWS. 

Industry response

Tensions have run high between the two countries since eradication efforts began, and Rollins’ latest announcement comes just weeks after the U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement on aircraft restrictions and customs duties needed to aid in these efforts. 

This time around, Berdegué rebuked Rollins’ action to close ports and says he hopes the two countries will soon come to another agreement. 

Closer to home, several U.S. ag groups have praised the USDA’s recent action. 

U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) President Justin Tupper states, “We are grateful to Rollins and the USDA for recognizing the urgent threat posed by the NWS and making the hard decision to halt animal movement across the Southern Border. Closing the border to Mexico will protect the U.S. beef supply and U.S. producers from NWS. This is an issue that was resolved in the 1970s after the parasite caused severe and lasting damage to America’s cattle herd. Its reemergence is a very serious issue with potentially catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.” 

He continues, “We must remain vigilant. The lessons of the past, combined with today’s cutting-edge surveillance and eradication tools, give us the best possible chance to halt this outbreak. USCA will continue to work hand-in-hand with USDA, state veterinarians and our neighbors in Mexico to eradicate NWS once again and safeguard America’s cattle ranching heritage.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Executive Officer Colin Woodall says, “USDA’s border closure was entirely avoidable. U.S. government officials, NCBA and leaders from affiliated state cattle industry associations have been sounding the alarm for months.”

“Unfortunately, the Mexican government created unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles which rendered prevention efforts ineffective and allowed NWS cases to spread unchecked beyond control points in southern Mexico,” he adds. “The Mexican government’s failure to knock down senseless obstacles has left America with no alternative but a closure of the U.S. border until the outbreak is verifiably stopped and the flies pushed south of Panama’s Darien Gap.”

Woodall goes on to note NCBA will continue to work closely with USDA to monitor the situation and will appeal directly to the Mexican government to do more to intervene and stop the spread of NWS.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.