Santa Teresa cattle crossing moves closer to reopening after months-long closure

SANTA TERESA, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Santa Teresa livestock crossing is one step closer to reopening after months of closure caused by the New World screwworm outbreak, a development local officials say could bring significant economic benefits to the Borderland.

The facility, located in southern New Mexico, is the largest cattle crossing between the United States and Mexico and is considered one of the most modern livestock processing facilities on the U.S.-Mexico border.

It serves as a critical link between the agricultural economies of both countries.

The crossing has been closed since the U.S. Department of Agriculture suspended cattle imports from Mexico to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that lays eggs in open wounds of livestock and other warm-blooded animals.

Daniel Manzanares, director of the Santa Teresa International Import and Export Livestock Facility, said the next step in reopening begins in Arizona.

The 24th of August they’ll be opening up Douglas, Arizona because it’s the furthest one away from where the New World screwworm was detected,” Manzanares said. “If everything goes well, they’ll be reopening the two ports here in New Mexico, Columbus and Santa Teresa.

Manzanares said he is optimistic the reopening process will move forward but emphasized that continued cooperation between federal, state and Mexican officials will be essential.

“What we need to do here is be vigilant… it’s the different states working together in conjunction, a lot of communication between Mexico and the United States,” he said.

Earlier this week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a $25 million investment to build a new sterile fly dispersal facility in Douglas, Arizona.

According to USDA, the facility is designed to strengthen efforts to suppress the New World screwworm by releasing sterile male flies, a technique officials say has successfully reduced populations in the past.

The announcement follows USDA’s recent decision to begin a phased reopening of southern cattle ports.

Destiny Venecia reports on Santa Teresa livestock crossing possibly reopening after one year.

Under the plan, the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry will reopen to cattle trade on Aug. 24. USDA says it will then begin operational steps toward reopening the Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, ports if conditions remain favorable.

Manzanares said reopening Santa Teresa would restore one of the nation’s most important cattle trade routes.

The closure has affected ranchers, trucking companies, livestock brokers, feedyards and businesses throughout the Borderland while limiting cattle imports that industry leaders say have contributed to higher beef prices nationwide.

“When that Mexican rancher gets $100,000, $400,000, he leaves a chunk of it here in El Paso,” Manzanares said. “Ranch supplies, trucks, vehicles, school supplies, restaurants, room nights. It’s a chain reaction.”

He said the economic impacts have extended well beyond the livestock industry.

“All the agencies that deal with the cattle crossing, from the brokers, the buyers, they’ve all had a hard time,” Manzanares said. “The grow yards that receive these cattle, that are closing because there’s not enough cattle, they suffer financially.”

If Santa Teresa reopens, Manzanares expects businesses across the Borderland to see benefits almost immediately.

“Immediately. Immediately. There will be a fresh infusion of financial blood here. Every business will benefit,” he said.

He added that reopening the crossing would help businesses throughout El Paso and southern New Mexico, saying, “It affects many different businesses here in El Paso and that’s why it really hurts so many people.”

There is still no official reopening date for the Santa Teresa livestock crossing.

USDA officials have said they will first evaluate the success of the Douglas reopening before determining when the New Mexico ports can resume cattle imports.

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