Arizona Port Could Redefine How Cattle Move

By Joanna Allhands

The cattle crossing between Douglas, Ariz., and Agua Prieta, Mexico, might not look much different since it reopened in late August.

The pens, the buildings — they’re all still there.

But new protocols and procedures are happening within them that could redefine how cattle move between the two countries.

Douglas port has many eyes on cattle

The U.S. government initially closed all Mexican border ports to livestock in May 2025, saying it was necessary to reduce the risk of New World Screwworm spread.

The pest has been detected in nearly 43,000 animals in Mexico since late 2024.

But the closure exacerbated cattle shortages that have pushed American beef prices to record highs.

And pressure to reopen the border accelerated as screwworm cases were confirmed in Texas and New Mexico.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) chose to reopen the Douglas port first because of the proactive response that the Mexican state of Sonora has taken to counter the pest.

Officials announced a slew of new requirements to move cattle from Sonora into the U.S., including multiple inspections and an electronic ear tag for tracking each animal’s health and point of origin.

“It really is unprecedented,” said Arizona Department of Agriculture Animal Services Division Director Rob Smook, who has embedded state inspectors at the Douglas site.