US says it will begin lifting a suspension of Mexican cattle imports starting in August

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The United States announced Friday it will begin reopening the border to Mexican cattle imports on Aug. 24, more than a year after it imposed the measure due to the spread of the New World screwworm in Mexico.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the reopening of cattle imports from Mexico will begin at the Douglas, Arizona border crossing, which borders Agua Prieta in Mexico’s Sonora state.

The statement said the necessary steps will be taken for the subsequent reopening of the Santa Teresa and Columbus border crossings in New Mexico, without specifying dates.

Despite the ban, the screwworm was detected last month in Texas and southeastern New Mexico, where more than 30 cases have been reported to date.

In Mexico, the screwworm outbreak was detected in November 2024 and has spread to 29 of the country’s 32 states. Currently, there are 1,792 active cases, according to official figures.

The parasite, a larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly, attacks warm-blooded animals, including humans.

U.S. authorities said imports of Mexican cattle will be subject to compliance with a joint action plan, and the animals will undergo inspection in the U.S. to prevent the entry of screwworm larvae.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a message on social media that she was notified of the measure in a letter sent by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, adding that Mexico will accelerate its efforts to be ready to resume the movement of cattle through Sonora and subsequently through the border state of Chihuahua, where five cases of screwworm were recently reported.

Sheinbaum said the measure is an example of “dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration with mutual respect between Mexico and the United States.”

Rollins, in the U.S. statement, said it is now safe to reopen the crossing through Arizona.

The Mexican livestock sector estimates that the suspension led to multimillion dollar losses.

A calf is held in a head gate during veterinary checks at a ranch that supplies livestock for export to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, Monday, July 28, 2025, as the U.S. border remains closed to Mexican cattle imports because of screwworm concerns. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

CHICAGO (AP) — Houston Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti left his start against the Chicago White Sox while warming up in the second inning Friday night with a foot injury.

Arrighetti was throwing pitches before starting the second inning when he called for a trainer and was visited at the mound by manager Joe Espada and pitching coach Joshua Miller. After a short discussion, Arrighetti left the game and was replaced by AJ Blubaugh.

The Astros announced a few innings later that Arrighetti is dealing with nerve irritation in his right foot. The 26-year-old righty told reporters after the game he felt pain “on just about every pitch I threw” after hurting the nerve between his third and fourth toe during warmups before the game.

“I’ve never felt it before today," he said. "The way it was explained to me is there’s something that’s pushing on a nerve in my foot or inflammation of some kind.”

Arrighetti thought he could pitch through the pain.

“Usually you write the things off that feel not important," he said, "and, honestly, I didn’t think a little nerve sensation was going to bother me as much as it did.”

Arrighetti struggled in the first inning, allowing three runs and two hits with two walks and two hit batters while throwing 33 pitches. He's 7-5 and has a 4.60 ERA and hasn't won since May 28, when he was 7-1.

Arrighetti didn't factor into the decision Friday night, when the Astros used an eight-run sixth inning to rally past the White Sox 9-5.

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Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)