Texas at Center of USDA Livestock Ban as Screwworm Threat Sparks Urgent Action

Texas is on the front lines of a new agricultural crisis after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an immediate suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports from Mexico due to the threat of the New World screwworm, a highly destructive livestock parasite.

The decision, announced by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollin (R), directly impacts Texas ranchers and livestock markets, many of which rely on cross-border trade with Mexico. The suspension applies to all U.S. southern border ports of entry, including the busiest livestock crossings in Texas.

“This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety,” Rollins said in a public statement. “The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance.”

The New World screwworm, confirmed in southern Mexican states like Oaxaca and Veracruz, poses a significant threat despite being over 700 miles from the U.S. border. The USDA fears that without aggressive containment, the pest could cross into Texas, a state with over 12 million cattle and a livestock industry valued in tens of billions of dollars.

Texas Congressman Chip Roy (R) backed the USDA’s decision with a blunt message directed at Mexican authorities.

Responding to Rollins’ post on X, Roy said, “Good, we should pound on Mexico to fix this down there.”

Roy has long advocated for stronger border protections, and the screwworm threat plays directly into his emphasis on biosecurity and sovereignty. His district includes parts of the Texas Hill Country, where ranching is a central economic driver.

The last major outbreak in the U.S. took decades to fully eradicate. Rollins warned that history must not be allowed to repeat itself.

“The last time this devastating pest invaded America, it took 30 years for our cattle industry to recover,” said Rollins. “This cannot happen again”

Rollins noted she has been working with Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture, Julio Berdegué, to support surveillance and eradication efforts. Still, she said swift unilateral action was necessary to “protect the U.S. livestock industry from a devastating pest.”

For Texas, the suspension could temporarily disrupt livestock imports, but officials say the cost of inaction would be far greater.