APHIS stops live animal imports across US southern border
This halt in imports is due to the rapid spread of the New World screwworm in Mexico, taking effect immediately.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on May 11, 2025, that there is a suspension of bison, cattle, and horse imports through ports of entry along the southern border of the US due to the rapid northward spread of the New World screwworm (NWS) in Mexico. Despite continued efforts to interdict and eradicate NWS in Mexico, it has been detected in remote farms with minimal cattle movement, approximately 700 miles from the border in Oaxaca and Veracruz.
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“The United States has ordered the suspension of livestock imports through ports of entry along our southern border after the continued spread of the New World Screwworm in Mexico. Secretary Berdegué and I have worked closely on the NWS response; however, it is my duty to take all steps within my control to protect the livestock industry in the United States from this devastating pest,” Brooke L. Rollins, US Secretary of Agriculture, said in a USDA release.1
“The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance. 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,” she continued.
According to the USDA, effective immediately, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in conjunction with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will restrict the imports of live animal commodities originating from or transiting to Mexico and will persist on a month-by-month basis. This restriction will continue until a "significant window of containment" is achieved. At this time, any livestock that is currently in holding for entry in the United States will be processed normally, including an APHIS port veterinary medical officer inspection exam and treatment to make sure the cattle entering are not carrying NWS.1 The new restriction will also apply to dogs traveling with owners to Mexico, and a health attestation before returning to the US will be required before they can re-enter the US.
The USDA shared that it will also continue to constantly collaborate with Mexico on this issue by reviewing the latest data and metrics in 2 weeks. The department is also in daily communication with Mexico to discuss how to build on what has been accomplished so far to improve the strategy toward eradicating NWS. The 2 countries plan to effectively eradicate NWS by using a 3-pronged approach with robust active field surveillance, education, and outreach to ensure prevention, treatment, and early detection; controlled animal movement to limit spread; and sustained sterile insect dispersal.1 Through the suspensions, the US will have a chance to reassess whether the current mitigation standards remain sufficient. However, the USDA noted the northward spread of NWS could also be possible through natural wildlife movements.
RELATED: Vet Watch Update: New World screwworm
Other efforts for eradication from the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm, which is a joint program between Panama’s Ministry of Agricultural Development and APHIS, include releasing sterile flies at strategic locations, focusing on Southern Mexico and other areas throughout Central America, to disrupt reproduction.2 The US has also utilized the USDA Tick Riders, mounted patrol officers employed by the USDA who served as the first line of defense against an outbreak of cattle fever,3 to monitor livestock and wildlife along the southern border region for the presence of NWS between the ports of entry.
References
- Secretary Rollins suspends live animal imports through ports of entry along southern border, effective immediately. News release. US Department of Agriculture. May 11, 2025. Accessed May 21, 2025. https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/05/11/secretary-rollins-suspends-live-animal-imports-through-ports-entry-along-southern-border-effective
- APHIS halts live animal imports across US southern border again due to screwworm. American Veterinary Medical Association. News release. May 19, 2025. Accessed May 21, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/aphis-halts-live-animal-imports-across-us-southern-border-again-due-screwworm?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=todays-headlines-news
- Avalos E. Tick riders: the cornerstone of USDA’s Cattle Fever Tick Program. US Department of Agriculture. April 23, 2011. Accessed May 21, 2025. https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/tick-riders-cornerstone-usdas-cattle-fever-tick-program
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