At the Santa Teresa border crossing in New Mexico, cattle from Mexico are permitted to be imported into the USA again. The opening occurred on September 24, 2026, after more than one year of restrictions due to the New World screwworm fly.
The parasite can infect wounds on live animals and cause severe damage. For this reason, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had limited imports. The reopening is taking place in stages and under a health protocol agreed upon jointly with Mexico.
Santa Teresa is central to livestock trade. In the five years prior to the closure, approximately 43 percent of Mexican cattle imports were processed there according to USDA data. On the first day of reopening, more than 400 animals passed through the crossing.
The reopening does not mean that operations resume without restrictions. Animals require pre-inspections, health documentation, and inspections. In case of new disease occurrences, throughput can be limited or the crossing can be closed again.
For transporters, animal welfare, cleaning, waiting areas, and temperature planning come into play. Livestock shipments cannot simply be parked like standard general cargo in the event of border delays.