The United States successfully eradicated the New World Screwworm in the late 1960s, but Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says that former President Joe Bidenâs open borders helped clear the way for its return.
Rollins laid out the case during a recent hearing, following news that the parasitic fly â which, in its larval (maggot) stage, enters livestock, pets, and even humans through open wounds and then feeds on living tissue â had breached the United States border for the first time in 50 years.
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âBeginning in 2022 when the Darien Gap was breached, into 2023 when the screwworm began moving at a rapid pace up through Central America, and hitting Mexico in 2024 under the last administration,â Rollins described the timeline around the parasiteâs migration, linking it to the mass migration of people who flooded the United States border during Bidenâs administration due to his lax border policies.
âWe know this development is a serious threat, but it did not catch us off guard,â Rollins added. âWeâve established a 20-kilometer movement zone, expedited targeted release of sterile flies in the affected area, weâve increased the trapping for flies along the border, and are ramping up surveillance.â
Rollins shared several details about efforts already underway to stop the spread of the deadly parasite in an earlier X post, effectively stating that the Trump administration was declaring war on the invasive pest.
âWe have been in full combat mode against this invasive threat since Day One,â she posted, adding, âThis administration is working hand-in-hand with our Texas partners delivering an unprecedented response: hitting harder, faster, and smarter than ever before. Thanks to our proactive preparation and rapid response, American agriculture will not be disrupted. We will eradicate this threat.â
The first official case of the screwworm in the United States came last week when a young calf in Texas tested positive for the parasite.
Read the full article at The Daily Wire âđSource document: Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America
2 reports
PoliticoParty-alignedLeft10 days agoKen Salazar, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico under President Joe Biden, expressed frustration with the White House's handling of the border situation. He claims he advocated for a 'border czar' to coordinate efforts but did not receive support. Salazar also criticized the delayed recognition of the border issue as a 'crisis' and stated that he considered running for president due to concerns over the political consequences for Democrats in the 2024 election. His upcoming book discusses his vision for a new North American alliance involving the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Bias read (Left): The article presents Salazar's criticisms of the Biden administration's border policies and highlights his advocacy for a more integrated approach among North American countries. The framing emphasizes the need for a new alliance and suggests a critique of current administration actions, aligning it
Official sources cited
- press release Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America
The Daily WireIndependentRight11 days agoThe article discusses the resurgence of the New World Screwworm in the U.S., attributing its return to former President Joe Biden's immigration policies. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins claims that the influx of migrants across the southern border during the Biden administration facilitated the pest's reentry after being eradicated in the 1960s. Efforts to contain the infestation include establishing a 20-kilometer movement zone, releasing sterile flies, increasing fly trapping, and enhancing surveillance.
Bias read (Right): The article frames the return of the New World Screwworm as a direct consequence of Biden's 'open borders' policy, using strong language such as 'lax border policies' and implying a causal link between immigration and the pest's reappearance without providing balanced counterarguments or alternative
Official sources cited
- government Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins
United States