EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins stated that the Santa Teresa Port of Entry is scheduled to reopen Thursday, Sept. 24, allowing the first head of cattle to enter the United States.

Rollins held a press conference in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to announce the reopening of the Santa Teresa port, where she stated that the port is the busiest for livestock inspections along the U.S and Mexican border.

She said the port of entry on the southern border has played a “critical role” in the American Cattle Trade for over 120 years.

“If we cannot feed ourselves in this country, then we will no longer know freedom,” Rollins said.

Rollins said she has been working hard for the last year and a half to open up markets around the world for great American products.

New Mexico joined the USDA’s State Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, allowing products from New Mexico to travel across state lines, Rollins said.

Rollins stated that there are 2 active and 48 confirmed cases of New World Screwworm in the U.S., with 0 in New Mexico.

“The fight is not yet over, but we are winning,” Rollins said. “Protecting American livestock will always come first.”

The USDA’s APHIS has already begun preparation activities to reopen the port, in conjunction with state and local officials, Rollins said.

“Before arriving at the port, the cattle will be inspected, and every animal will receive a full USDA inspection before they even get to this side of the border,” Rollins said.

Officials said the opening of the Santa Teresa port is part of a phased reopening of ports as they work to restore normal operations with new protocols to prevent the spread of New World screwworm.

According to Rollins, she is planning to reopen the Columbus, New Mexico, port.

New Mexico state officials reported the confirmation of New Mexico’s second case of New World Screwworm was detected Thursday, Sept. 17.

According to a press release from the New Mexico Livestock Board, the case has been confimed in a horse in Grant County.

State officials said the confirmed case came after Secretary Rollins’ press conference from Thursday morning, Sept. 17.