No plan to open Mexico border to cattle shipments: Rollins
TL;DR
The USDA has no plans to reopen the southern border for cattle imports from Mexico due to ongoing New World Screwworm risks, with the suspension indefinite until Mexico shows sustained eradication progress. This decision disrupts trade and is framed as a national security issue to protect U.S. livestock.
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No plan to open Mexico border to cattle shipments: Rollins
U.S. Maintains Closure of Southern Border for Livestock Trade Amid New World Screwworm Concerns
As of February 26, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not announced plans to reopen southern border ports for cattle, bison, or equine imports from Mexico, citing ongoing risks posed by the New World Screwworm (NWS). The decision follows repeated detections of the pest in northern Mexican states, including Veracruz and Oaxaca, which have complicated efforts to establish a secure barrier against its spread.
The USDA first suspended live animal imports on May 11, 2025, after NWS cases emerged in regions approximately 700 miles south of the U.S. border. A July 9, 2025, report revealed a new NWS case in Ixhuatlan de Madero, Veracruz—160 miles north of Mexico’s sterile fly dispersal grid— prompting Secretary Rollins to halt all livestock trade through southern ports indefinitely. This action disrupted a previously announced phased reopening schedule, which had aimed to resume imports at five ports between July and September 2025.
The USDA emphasizes that reopening hinges on Mexico demonstrating sustained progress in eradicating NWS through enhanced surveillance, animal movement controls, and sterile fly dispersal. Secretary Rollins has prioritized a "Bold Plan" to combat the pest, including the construction of a sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas and expanded collaboration with Mexican authorities. However, the economic impact remains significant for both nations, with U.S. livestock producers and Mexican cattle exporters facing ongoing disruptions.
While the USDA continues site visits to Mexico to verify eradication efforts, no timeline has been provided for border reopening. Rollins has reiterated that the suspension is a necessary measure to safeguard U.S. livestock and food security, framing NWS containment as a "national security issue". With NWS detected in multiple Central American countries and parts of Mexico since 2024, the USDA maintains that a coordinated, science-based approach is critical to preventing reinfestation in the U.S.
Investors and industry stakeholders are advised to monitor USDA updates, as prolonged trade restrictions could further affect supply chains and market dynamics in the agricultural sector.
