Egg Smuggling On the Rise At U.S.-Mexico Border

The bird flu epidemic has fueled a surge in egg smuggling at the U.S.-Mexico border, challenging U.S. Customs and Border Protection to enforce restrictions amid rising prices and shortages.

Quick Takes

A 29% increase in confiscated eggs at U.S. borders stems from increased smuggling.
Bird flu has led to the culling of millions of chickens, causing egg price spikes.
Importing raw eggs from Mexico is prohibited due to disease control concerns.
Turkey’s export agreement aims to alleviate U.S. egg shortages.

Border Smuggling Surge

Egg smuggling attempts at the U.S.-Mexico border have surged due to an ongoing bird flu outbreak, which has significantly disrupted the poultry industry. The El Paso port of entry has reported over 90 smuggling attempts since the start of the year, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials actively enforcing restrictions on raw egg imports to protect public health.

CBP emphasized that failure to declare agricultural items like raw eggs can lead to penalties of up to $10,000. Public unawareness and high U.S. egg prices aggravate the situation. Egg smuggling has been driven by prices, which have skyrocketed following the culling of millions of chickens.

Disease Control and Economic Impact

The bird flu outbreak resulted in the slaughter of 160 million birds across the U.S., including egg-laying hens. This has led to a nationwide egg shortage and subsequent price hikes, with reports of $8.07 per dozen in some areas. The situation is exacerbated by consumers purchasing fewer eggs, forcing family grocery budgets to tighten as supplies dwindle.

“As a reminder, uncooked eggs are prohibited entry from Mexico into the U.S. Failure to declare agriculture items can result in penalties of up to $10,000,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki.

The federal government is working to alleviate the crisis, negotiating with Turkey to import 15,000 metric tons of eggs. This agreement, running through July 2025, aims to keep supplies stable. Such measures are vital for reducing the temptation to smuggle and ensuring that consumers have access to affordable eggs without harming public health.

Future Challenges

CBP officials remain steadfast in their efforts to curb the smuggling attempts, yet longstanding challenges persist. The USDA bans on Canadian poultry and fluctuating import restrictions highlight ongoing border and regulatory challenges amid the disease outbreak.

CBP’s Director of Field Operations in El Paso, Hector Mancha, said, “CBP officers remain steadfast in their efforts to execute their primary homeland security mission.”

The cost and availability of eggs will inevitably depend on the successful management of current avian epidemic measures and international assistance agreements. Balancing food safety, public health, and economics remains a challenging task for authorities responsible for U.S. border and public safety.