US Reopens Santa Teresa Port to Mexican Cattle Imports

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Santa Teresa port of entry in New Mexico will reopen for livestock trade on September 24, 2026. The facility, which handles between 40% and 43% of all U.S. cattle imports from Mexico, had been closed since 2024 or 2025 to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm parasite. The reopening is part of a broader strategy to mitigate domestic cattle shortages.

The restart will be gradual, initially limiting imports to 750 head of cattle per day. This follows a phased reopening process that began in Douglas, Arizona, in late August. To combat the parasite, the United States Department of Agriculture invested over $1.3 billion in surveillance and the release of 1 billion sterile flies. While 48 cases of screwworm have been confirmed nationwide, including two active infestations in Texas, no animals have died.

Cattle will undergo inspections in Chihuahua, Mexico, followed by a full USDA inspection before entry. Rollins warned that ports will be shut down again if new threats emerge, though the Columbus, New Mexico, port may reopen next if operations remain successful. Following the announcement, cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell, pressured by the expected increase in supply and slumping consumer demand for high-priced beef and pork.