In a decisive move to protect American livestock and the nation's food supply, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on Sunday announced an immediate suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through ports of entry along the southern U.S. border. The decision follows a troubling rise in the spread of New World Screwworm in Mexico, with recent detections as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz—roughly 700 miles from the U.S. border.
Despite ongoing collaborative eradication efforts between the United States and Mexico, officials say the parasitic fly continues to spread at an unacceptable rate, prompting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take further preventive action.
“This is not about politics or punishing Mexico,” Rollins said in a statement. “It’s about protecting our animals and ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply. This is a national security issue.”
The suspension, carried out by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, will apply to all live animal imports originating in or transiting through Mexico. The restriction will be reviewed monthly and remain in place until officials see evidence of containment progress. Livestock currently awaiting entry will still be admitted following mandatory veterinary inspection and treatment to ensure they are free of NWS.
Rollins acknowledged the economic consequences of the suspension for both nations but emphasized the urgent need to halt the pest's advance. “Secretary [Victor] Berdegué and I have worked closely on the NWS response,” she added. “But I must take all necessary steps to protect American livestock producers.”
The USDA outlined a three-part strategy to control the outbreak: increased field surveillance and education, restrictions on animal movement, and expanded sterile insect releases. Officials also warned that while halting livestock imports may slow the pest’s spread via commerce, natural wildlife migration remains an ongoing risk.
To support containment efforts, USDA is deploying its Tick Riders along the southern border to monitor both livestock and wildlife for signs of infection between official ports of entry.
The New World Screwworm was previously eradicated from the U.S. and Mexico through a multi-billion-dollar campaign that spanned decades. The pest, which feeds on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, poses a grave threat to animal health and agricultural stability.
The USDA will re-evaluate the situation in two weeks in coordination with Mexican authorities and remains committed to resuming cross-border livestock trade once sufficient safeguards are in place.