Overview
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that migrants brought diseased cattle and cited screwworm as a reason the U.S. halted Mexican beef from entering the supply chain.
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins previously suspended Mexican cattle imports due to screwworm concerns, according to published reports.
- Media coverage reports there is no information to support claims that South American immigrants have been bringing cattle into the United States.
- Economists quoted in coverage point to tariffs on beef and key inputs from countries such as Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay as contributors to higher U.S. beef costs.
- The remarks drew ridicule from commentators on social media, with several figures calling the explanation implausible or a deflection from economic factors.