Sheinbaum Inaugurates Plant to Halt the Screwworm in Metapa, Chiapas

ByAlonso Urrutia

This article by Alonso Urrutia originally appeared in the June 27, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that “this is proof that, in the face of common challenges, collaboration for development is better than confrontation.”

For her part, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins maintained that this plant reflects such an extraordinary bilateral effort and is an example of joint bilateral work “to defeat this plague, devastating for our livestock, which affects food security on both sides of the border.”

Also present was the United States ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, who, in his first public appearance with Sheinbaum since the public falling-out stemming from the extradition request for the governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha, asserted that with the inauguration of this plant, results can be achieved through the joint work of both countries.

He announced that President Donald Trump’s administration will invest an additional 83.8 million dollars to confront this plague, which impacts food security, the economy, and consumers in both countries.

During her speech, Sheinbaum thanked Trump for this plant; that is precisely cooperation for development, even as she acknowledged that the United States contributed most of it, particularly regarding the scientific aspect.

In her speech, delivered, as she put it, “where Mexico begins,” Sheinbaum issued a “message to the world,” stressing that cooperation among sovereign countries is preferable to confrontation when it comes to protecting our peoples.

Our relationship with the United States is based on clear principles and recognition of the sovereignty of both countries, in order to drive “cooperation for development to keep opening paths through scientific collaboration, to keep bringing institutions closer with respect for our peoples.”

Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico and the United States share one of the most dynamic borders in the world; we are neighbors by geography and trade partners by conviction, with integrated economies.

“From the south of Mexico, a generous land, we celebrate a project of cooperation and joint political will. It is a message of optimism that cooperation promotes shared prosperity; we can build shared solutions.”

Rollins celebrated her presence in Mexico and emphasized that since she met Sheinbaum “I knew she understood and was completely focused and would be an extraordinary partner with us in the United States. This facility being inaugurated today is an exact example of how this partnership can work so wonderfully together.”

“I never thought we would be talking about flies and larvae,” Johnson let slip as he opened his speech, centered on stressing the importance of collaboration. In particular, he emphasized that the construction of this plant will allow greater security in the meat supply chain between the two countries, protecting the livestock industry, which is a matter of “national security.”

As everyone knows, Johnson continued, the screwworm threatens livestock, wildlife, and agriculture in both countries, “so this is not just an agricultural matter, it is a matter of economics and food security and, ultimately, it is a matter of quality of life for everyone.”

Johnson stated that “the cooperation we are addressing today reflects President Trump’s commitment and his vision of fighting this plague together.”