Economy 1 SOURCE · UNCORROBORATED ≈ONE BORDER PORT (COLUMBUS, NM), THE THIRD REOPENED; COLUMBUS AND SANTA TERESA TOGETHER CARRY ABOUT A THIRD OF MEXICAN CATTLE IMPORTS, AND THE TRADE IS WORTH ABOUT $1B TO THE REGION Oct 26, 2026

Columbus, New Mexico border crossing reopens to Mexican cattle after nearly two years

On Monday, October 26, 2026, Mexican cattle began moving through the port of entry at Columbus, New Mexico, after USDA inspectors gave the all-clear. The crossing had been closed for nearly two years over New World screwworm. It is the third port to resume Mexican cattle imports under new testing, treatment and inspection requirements before animals reach the border. This is one port, and imports will ramp up gradually, well below the pre-outbreak level of about 1 million head per year. The screwworm outbreak is still active, and the reopening could be reversed if risk management slips.

HOW WE VERIFIED THIS

The verified claim: On Monday, October 26, 2026, Mexican cattle began moving through the U.S. port of entry at Columbus, New Mexico, after USDA inspectors gave the all-clear, reopening a crossing closed for nearly two years over New World screwworm. It is the third port to resume Mexican cattle imports under new pre-border testing, treatment and inspection safeguards.
What we checked: Reported by one outlet so far; we checked it against the source, but no second outlet has corroborated it yet.abcnews.com
Confidence: Well substantiated(0.80)
Caveats: This is a single port reopening, and imports will ramp up gradually. They are not near the pre-outbreak level of about 1 million head per year. The scale_magnitude is a rough estimate of annual cattle head through Columbus, derived from the combined two-port share, and is not a reported figure. The economic benefits, including jobs, the local cattle trade and beef prices, are anticipated rather than measured. Experts say beef prices will not fall quickly. The screwworm outbreak is still active, with more than 60 U.S. cases and a first wildlife case. Flies can cross the border on their own, so the reopening depends on continued risk management and could be reversed. The story is a single AP wire report, but the reporter was on scene and observed cattle moving through the chutes.

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Why it matters

Screwworm closures cut off a cattle trade worth about $1 billion to the region, and a third port reopening under added safeguards suggests the risk can be managed, though the economic benefits are still anticipated and beef prices are not expected to fall quickly.

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Read at abcnews.com ↗

CHECKED · 1 SOURCE · UNCORROBORATED

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Columbus, New Mexico border crossing reopens to Mexican cattle after nearly two years

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