Phased Reopening of Southern Ports for Livestock Trade Planned, New Arizona New World Screwworm Facility
Published Friday, July 31, 2026
This week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Douglas, Arizona, where she announced plans for a $25 million investment in a sterile fly facility to help combat the threat of New World screwworm, or NWS. The announcement follows USDA's decision late last week to begin a phased reopening of southern ports for livestock imports. Douglas has historically served as the primary entry point into Arizona and the western U.S. for livestock arriving from Sonora, Mexico. Sonora remains free of any reported NWS cases and is expected to maintain high standards for livestock moving through the state. The new sterile fly facility in Douglas is intended to provide an additional layer of protection as livestock imports resume.
All livestock entering through Douglas will also be subject to inspection and treatment to reduce the risk of NWS spreading from there. There have been 42 total NWS cases detected in the United States—nearly all in Texas—since the first detection on June 3. The border has been closed to livestock imports since last year, but several industry groups have expressed concerns that a prolonged closure could have long-term impacts on U.S. livestock processing and production. The phased reopening is scheduled to begin on Aug. 24 but may be paused if additional risks are identified before or after reopening.
Staff contact: Matthew Viohl, mviohl@cfbf.com.
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