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After Federal Change, Border Cattle Industry Struggles

Border Security Takes Toll On Cattle Industry
Roque Planas
By 

National Reporter, HuffPost

In this photo taken May 3, 2011, Mexican cattle is prepared for transport after USDA inspection in Laredo, Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has shifted some of its cattle inspection stations from Mexico into the United States after concerns about drug cartel violence. The change has occurred over the past year at three of the 11 stations along the border that check cattle being imported from Mexico. All the new stations are in Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
In this photo taken May 3, 2011, Mexican cattle is prepared for transport after USDA inspection in Laredo, Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has shifted some of its cattle inspection stations from Mexico into the United States after concerns about drug cartel violence. The change has occurred over the past year at three of the 11 stations along the border that check cattle being imported from Mexico. All the new stations are in Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

OJINAGA, MEXICO — This remote town on the Texas-Mexico border used to enjoy the distinction of being one of the busiest ports for importing Mexican cattle into the U.S.

But citing concerns about escalating drug violence in Mexico, the U.S. Department of Agriculture last year moved its cattle inspectors across the Rio Grande into Texas — a decision residents on both sides of the border say has crippled the local livestock industry.

“We feel we’ve been wronged. We feel the area is safe and we’re victims of circumstances [occurring] along many other borders with many issues,” said Carlos Nieto, special projects manager for Presidio, the Texas city across the border from Ojinaga. “In Washington and in [the Mexican presidential palace] Los Pinos, we’re a no-man’s land. They don’t know about our way of life.”

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