(The Hill) – Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on Sunday that the U.S. is halting imports of livestock at ports of entry along the southern border in response to the “continued spread” of the “New World screwworm” (NWS) in Mexico.

The move comes after NWS was detected in remote farms as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, approximately 700 miles from the U.S. border, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Rollins stressed that the announcement “is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety.”

“[Mexican Agriculture and Rural Development] Secretary Berdegué and I have worked closely on the NWS response; however, it is my duty to take all steps within my control to protect the livestock industry in the United States from this devastating pest,” Rollins said in a statement.

“The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance. Once we see increased surveillance and eradication efforts, and the positive results of those actions, we remain committed to opening the border for livestock trade,” Rollins continued.

The import suspension will continue on a month-by-month basis “until a significant window of containment is achieved.” The suspension applies to livestock that originate in Mexico or that are transported through Mexico.

Rollins pledged to continue working closely with Mexican counterparts to eradicate NWS, saying officials “have been in daily communication discussing how we can build on the good work that has been accomplished to improve our strategy toward eradication.”

NWS was previously eradicated in U.S. and Mexico, according to USDA. The first recent case was reported in Mexico in November 2024, and, that same month, USDA shut down the border for live animal trade. In February 2025, the imports resumed but were subject to “a comprehensive pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol.”