Cattle inspections resume at Douglas-Agua Prieta crossing

Federal inspectors are once again evaluating cattle headed for the United States from Mexico through the port of entry in Douglas. The inspections, halted after violence in Mexico worried U.S. workers, resumed Monday.

Four months ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture halted inspections in Mexico after gun battles in Agua Prieta, just across the border from Douglas, killed at least eight people in the city. The violence prompted officials with the State Department to issue a warning about the city in January. 

However, due to pressure from ranchers and officials, including U.S. Rep. Ron Barber, inspections resumed Monday. 

Both Barber and U.S. Sen. John McCain praised the resumption of inspections. 

"It is absolutely essential to the economies of Douglas, Cochise County and other rural parts of Southern Arizona that these inspections resume," Barber said in a news release.

 "The income of ranchers, veterinarians and many others has been seriously harmed by this interruption. It now is time to get back to the business of safely moving these cattle across the border," he said. 

McCain said he was pleased with the decision, adding: "Over the past four months, Arizona cattlemen suffered major economic losses after the USDA banned federal cattle inspectors from traveling to Mexico, citing unspecified fears over border violence." 

In April, Barber wrote a letter to Kevin Shea, an administrator with USDA's Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service, asking him to resume the inspections. Arguing that the area was now safe for inspectors with new security plan in place, Barber offered to personally escort inspectors into Mexico. 

The USDA agreed to send inspectors after a mitigation plan was put into place, which include protection by Mexican police or military escorts, giving inspectors tracking devices, and getting permission from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to re-enter the United States during an emergency without passing through the port of entry in Agua Prieta. Before the agreement was made, U.S. inspectors had to travel from the cattle crossing, one mile west of Douglas along the border, back to the official crossing in Agua Prieta. 

However, by September of this year, the USDA may be operating inspection facilities inside Arizona.

Importers and exporters of cattle and other animals can contact the Douglas Veterinary Services port staff at 520-364-5681 to make inspection appointments.