– Nineteen national, state, and county cattle associations representing 13 states sent a letter today urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to delay the resumption of live cattle imports from Mexico until the New World Screwworm (NWS) is fully eradicated within its borders and a comprehensive, science–based risk assessment is completed and made available for public review through a formal notice and comment process.
The letter notes that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has described NWS as a “devastating pest that causes serious and often deadly damage to livestock, wildlife, pets, and in rare cases, humans.” The department also warned that the disease “can have catastrophic impacts on U.S. agriculture and animal and public health.”
The groups cite the recent explosion of NWS outbreaks in Panama as evidence of failed containment efforts, noting that the parasite has since advanced into Mexico. As of June 21, 2025, USDA confirmed multiple NWS detections within Mexico’s borders.
According to the letter, the USDA’s plan to reopen southern livestock ports lacks sufficient risk data. While the agency described the Arizona port as presenting the “lowest risk,” the groups stated there was no explanation or quantification of how that risk was assessed or measured.