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US to Reopen Border to Mexican Cattle on August 24, Starting at Douglas, Arizona

The US Department of Agriculture announced a phased reopening after more than a year of screwworm-related closures; Sonora and Chihuahua will lead the first stage.

By Miguel Díaz Miró · Responsible editor ·
Cattle in an inspection pen at the Mexico–United States border

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on July 24, 2026 a phased reopening of its border ports to Mexican cattle trade, which had been suspended intermittently due to the spread of the New World screwworm. The first stage begins August 24 at the Douglas, Arizona crossing, which connects with Sonora, while operational steps start simultaneously to later open the Santa Teresa and Columbus ports in New Mexico.

According to the USDA, Sonora and Chihuahua lead this stage because they have well-established inspection programs and are located far from southern Mexico, where most cases are concentrated. Every animal crossing the border will undergo a full US inspection to rule out signs of the pest, and the schedule will remain under constant evaluation: if audits detect increased sanitary risk, operations may be suspended again.

According to data from Mexico's National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica) cited in the announcement, as of mid-July Mexico had 1,951 active screwworm cases across 27 states. The active case closest to the Douglas port was detected on July 22, about 325 miles away.

What the screwworm is. It is the larva of a fly that infests open wounds of warm-blooded animals and can cause severe injuries and even death in livestock. To contain it, Mexico and the United States have stepped up field surveillance and the release of sterile flies, a technique that disrupts the pest's reproduction.

What it means for Cancun and Quintana Roo. Although the reopening starts in the north, the issue directly touches the southeast: most active cases are concentrated in southern Mexico, according to the USDA itself. For livestock producers in the peninsula and for anyone keeping backyard animals or pets, health authorities recommend checking open wounds, treating them promptly and reporting any suspected infestation to Senasica. On the pocketbook side, live calf exports are one of Mexico's main livestock trade flows, and their gradual restart brings certainty back to a cattle market that had operated under restrictions for more than a year.

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