The U.S. Department of Agriculture is preparing to reopen a New Mexico port to livestock trade with Mexico next week, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Wednesday, September 16. The move would expand a phased restoration of cross-border cattle movements after months of restrictions imposed to limit the spread of New World screwworm, a parasite capable of causing severe damage to livestock. The decision matters to U.S. ranchers, feeders and the beef supply chain because Mexican cattle are an important component of cross-border livestock flows, while any reopening must be balanced against animal-health risks.

Rollins announced the plan during remarks at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture conference in Portland, Maine, according to Reuters correspondent Leah Douglas, who reported that the secretary planned to travel to New Mexico Wednesday night. Rollins said USDA was "getting ready" for the reopening, although she did not identify in those remarks which New Mexico crossing would resume operations. USDA's published import information currently lists Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, with reopening dates still to be determined, making the upcoming agency announcement important for livestock operators and importers.

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USDA expands cattle trade while keeping biosecurity controls in place

The expected reopening represents the next stage of a strategy USDA launched this summer. The department announced in July that Douglas, Arizona, would reopen to cattle imports from Mexico on August 24, followed by operational preparations for Santa Teresa and Columbus. USDA confirmed that Douglas reopened as scheduled and said subsequent decisions would depend on the performance of safeguards, Mexico's progress under a bilateral action plan and any changes in the epidemiological risk. Every animal moving through reopened ports is subject to USDA inspection for signs of New World screwworm.

The cautious approach follows repeated disruptions to livestock trade caused by the parasite's northward movement. USDA closed southern ports to cattle, bison and horses in July 2025 after another New World screwworm detection in Mexico raised concerns about the effectiveness of containment measures. Since then, animal health authorities on both sides of the border have intensified surveillance, inspection and control efforts. For U.S. cattle producers, the central challenge is restoring commercial livestock flows without creating a pathway for an animal-health threat that could impose substantial costs on ranches, feedlots and the broader beef supply chain.

New Mexico itself reached an important milestone in late August. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, released the state's only New World screwworm infested zone on August 30 after federal and state specialists determined that response requirements had been met. The state's first and only confirmed case involved a dog detected on June 7, and USDA said no additional cases were found before the zone was lifted. Authorities had used animal movement requirements, inspections, wildlife and fly surveillance, and strategic releases of sterile screwworm flies as part of the response.

USDA nevertheless continues to monitor the threat closely. Reuters reported Wednesday that the agency had two active screwworm infestations in Texas, involving a horse and a dog. Rollins pointed to the experience at Douglas as evidence that cross-border livestock movements can operate under enhanced safeguards, but she also stressed that USDA is prepared to halt trade again if officials identify another threat. That risk-based approach means the New Mexico reopening should not be viewed as a return to unrestricted livestock commerce, but rather as another controlled step in a border strategy that can be adjusted as animal-health conditions change.

New Mexico reopening could ease pressure on the U.S. cattle supply chain

For the cattle sector, additional border capacity could help normalize livestock flows between Mexico and the United States after repeated closures complicated sourcing and movement decisions. New Mexico has traditionally served as a major gateway for Mexican cattle entering U.S. production channels. Reopening another crossing would give importers and livestock operators additional logistical flexibility, potentially reducing reliance on a single operating port. The impact on cattle and beef markets, however, will depend on import volumes, animal eligibility, inspection capacity and whether the phased reopening continues without new disease-related interruptions.

Biosecurity remains the decisive factor. USDA describes New World screwworm as a serious pest affecting livestock and wildlife, although the agency says the U.S. food supply remains safe. The parasite's larvae infest wounds in warm-blooded animals, making rapid detection and treatment critical. USDA has deployed more than 100 screwworm-specific traps and lures in high-risk border areas while using thousands of other insect traps along the southern border. The agency also reported examining more than 6,600 wild animals across 28 species in high-risk Texas counties as part of its surveillance program.

The coming New Mexico reopening will therefore serve as another test of USDA's effort to reconcile livestock trade, cattle supply and agricultural biosecurity. Success could support further normalization of U.S.-Mexico animal movements and provide greater certainty for ranchers, feedlots and other supply-chain participants. A new detection or evidence of elevated risk, however, could quickly change that trajectory. As Rollins emphasized in remarks reported by Reuters, USDA retains the option to close crossings again if conditions deteriorate, keeping animal health-not the reopening calendar-as the determining factor for future trade decisions.