USDA to Reopen Two New Mexico Ports to Mexican Cattle

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will reopen the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and Columbus, New Mexico, ports of entry to Mexican cattle imports starting September 24, 2026. This move comes after a successful phased reopening of the Douglas, Arizona, port on August 24, 2026, which borders the low-risk Mexican state of Sonora. The decision is part of a broader effort to address record beef prices and a historic U.S. cattle shortage, as Mexico historically supplied around 1 million cattle annually to the U.S. The initial reopening of the Douglas port saw no new cases of New World screwworm (NWS) detected in the vicinity, and all cattle entering are subject to full USDA inspection.

This reopening is contingent on Mexico's adherence to a Joint Action Plan aimed at controlling and eradicating NWS. Sonora and Chihuahua are considered low-risk states due to their established inspection programs and geographic distance from southern Mexico, where most NWS cases are concentrated. The USDA emphasizes that the reopening timeline remains flexible and could be adjusted if increased risk is identified through post-opening audits or other observations.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins stated that protecting the U.S. from NWS is a top priority for the Trump Administration. The year-long closure of southern ports was a necessary measure to control NWS spread. The USDA's five-pronged plan to reduce NWS cases includes coordinating with Mexico, tracking and developing a risk-based trapping plan, supporting Mexico's hiring of over 500 surge staff for trapping, and providing approximately $105 million in funding for 40 projects through the NWS grand challenge. Livestock groups, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Meat Institute, and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, have supported the phased reopening, citing the need to normalize business for cattle operations and meet consumer demand amidst tight U.S. cattle supplies. The U.S. cattle inventory as of July 1, 2026, remains near its lowest level in five decades, making Mexican imports crucial for the supply chain.