By Alice McFarlane

U.S. suspends live animal imports through southern border

May 26, 2025 | 4:13 PM

Live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the Mexican border have been halted due to the rapid northward spread of New World Screwworm (NWS).

When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said NWS has been recently detected in remote farms with minimal cattle movement as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles away from the U.S. border.

Rollins said despite the efforts of Mexican and American officials there has been unacceptable northward advancement of NWS and additional action must be taken to slow the northern progression. She said it was time to take steps to protect the livestock industry in the United States.

“The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance,” she said. “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.”

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USDA will continue collaboration with Mexico, including a review of latest data and metrics. Any livestock currently in holding for entry into the United States will be processed normally, this includes an APHIS port Veterinary Medical Officer inspection exam and treatment to ensure they are not carrying NWS.

The U.S. previously and successfully led the eradication of NWS in the U.S. and Mexico, however this cost billions of dollars and took decades.

This import suspension will persist on a month-by-month basis, until a significant window of containment is achieved.

The first case of NWS in Mexico was reported to the U.S. in November 2024.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com