Border reopens after nearly two years

AGUA PRIETA, Mexico — Mexico resumed live cattle exports to the United States on Monday after they were halted for nearly two years by restrictions imposed by the Trump administration following a screwworm outbreak. Hundreds of cattle began crossing from Agua Prieta in the state of Sonora to Douglas, Arizona, at around 3 p.m., following several hours of inspections by Mexican and U.S. authorities who used dogs to check each animal for the parasite.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated the reopening, saying, "Today, the border in Sonora is open for livestock." Her administration outlined precautions including strengthening cattle tracing systems and continuing to disperse sterile flies in border states like Sonora and Chihuahua, the largest exporters of cattle to the U.S.

The reopening marks the first easing of a U.S. ban imposed more than a year ago, with imports set to resume initially through Arizona before expanding to additional ports in New Mexico, as reported by The Straits Times. The USDA said the reopening would proceed in phases and remain contingent on Mexico's compliance with screwworm-control measures.

The screwworm threat persists

The New World screwworm fly, whose larvae burrow into the wounds of warm-blooded animals, arrived in Mexico in November 2024 and is now present in 30 of the country's 32 states. In the United States, the first cases began to be reported in June in Texas and New Mexico. The first U.S. case since 1966 was reported June 3 in Texas, and more than 40 cases have been confirmed in southern Texas and southeastern New Mexico, according to The Manila Times and PBS.

Mexico currently has around 1,900 active screwworm cases, though reports differ on the exact figure: The Associated Press and several outlets put the number at 1,937, while Fortune reported 1,969 active cases as of earlier in the week. Fortune noted the caseload represents less than half the infections reported a year ago, a decline authorities say shows progress.

Sonora, the state chosen for the initial reopening, confirmed its first screwworm case just last week, and Chihuahua has reported 183 confirmed cases since July, according to The Straits Times. The USDA confirmed on Aug. 20 that Sonora had a case but said it would not change its reopening plans, as reported by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

New safeguards and phased limits

Under the new U.S. protocol, cattle crossings are limited to 700 head per day, increasing to 900 per day next week and 1,300 per day the following week, as reported by multiple outlets. The protocol requires radio-frequency identification tags in the cows' ears and scanners to detect the tags, along with inspections by both countries' authorities.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the phased reopening, starting with the Douglas, Arizona, crossing because Sonora and Chihuahua had stronger animal health programs, according to The Manila Times and PBS. Rollins said in a statement that the closure was "a tough but necessary action" and that it was "now safe to reopen" the port, as reported by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

The USDA will next evaluate reopening ports in Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, for cattle, bison, and horses, and may pause the opening if it identifies increased risk in Sonora or Chihuahua, according to The Straits Times.

The plan has drawn criticism from some U.S. cattle groups and state officials who argue that resuming imports could increase screwworm risks, The Straits Times reported.

Economic impact on ranchers and consumers

The border closure dealt a blow to cattle and beef industries on both sides, exacerbating a livestock shortage in the U.S. and hurting Mexican ranchers, as reported by Fortune. Before the closure, Mexico exported about 1.2 million head of cattle to the United States each year, generating $1.2 billion for Mexico last year, according to Fortune.

Rancher Martín Alfonso Ibarra in Sonora said the export halt cut his income by 40% last year, and he is cautiously optimistic about the reopening, though he will temper expectations until October when his calves gain enough weight, Fortune reported. When exports were suspended, Mexican ranchers turned to the domestic market, where they sold cattle for nearly 40% less than U.S. prices.

Juan Carlos Ochoa, president of the Regional Livestock Union of Sonora, said, "We are at a complicated moment when we need authorities to think less politically and more technically and reasonably," as quoted by Fortune.

The U.S. cattle herd has been shrinking for five years and is now the smallest in decades, with the USDA reporting 86.2 million head on Jan. 1, the lowest in 75 years, according to PBS and The Manila Times. Beef prices have surged: ground beef rose nearly 57% from July 2021 to July 2026, from $4.39 to $6.89 per pound, and steak rose 35% to a record $13.06 per pound, reported PBS.

Economists doubt the reopening will soon lower prices. Derrell Peel, a professor of agribusiness at Oklahoma State University, said, "I don't expect to see any measurable impact on cattle prices or beef prices soon," as reported by PBS. Glynn Tonsor, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, said the effect is lessened because the U.S. beef industry has become more efficient, according to The Manila Times.

Perspectives

Mexican government

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Agriculture Minister Columba Lopez highlighted the effectiveness of the sterile fly technique and preventive measures, framing the reopening as a positive step achieved through scientific cooperation. Sheinbaum said dispersing sterile flies is a "modern" and "effective" way to fight screwworm, adding, "That allows us to open the border." (as reported by The Straits Times)

U.S. officials and cattle groups

The USDA, represented by Secretary Brooke Rollins, describes the reopening as a careful, science-based process with overlapping safeguards. Some U.S. cattle groups and state officials argue that resuming imports could increase screwworm risks, while Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman praised the approach as "careful, science-based." (as reported by The Straits Times, The Manila Times, and PBS)

Economists and ranchers

Economists like Derrell Peel and Glynn Tonsor emphasize that the reopening will not immediately affect beef prices, given the long-term herd decline. Mexican ranchers express cautious optimism, though some like Juan Carlos Ochoa criticize the political rather than technical handling of the situation. (as reported by PBS, The Manila Times, and Fortune)