Unusual Rise In Egg Smuggling Raises Questions At Border

Person pointing at an upward trend line graph.

Amid the bird flu crisis, egg smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border has drastically increased, posing significant challenges for border control in El Paso, Texas.

Key Takeaways

29% increase in smuggled shell eggs at U.S. ports of entry between October 2024 and February.
Rising egg prices prompted 90+ attempted smugglings from Mexico into the U.S. since January.
U.S. Customs warns against bringing raw eggs due to disease concerns like bird flu and VND.
Turkey to ship 15,000 tonnes of eggs to the U.S. to ease shortages.

Escalating Egg Smuggling: A Border Challenge

Since the bird flu outbreak, egg prices in the United States have soared due to the mass culling of egg-laying hens. This situation has led to a significant increase in smuggling attempts at the U.S.-Mexico border, notably in El Paso, Texas. Between October 2024 and February, there has been a reported 29% increase in the seizure of shell eggs at U.S. points of entry compared to the previous year, highlighting the growing demand and desperate measures taken by some individuals.

Authorities intercepted over 90 individuals trying to smuggle eggs from Mexico into the U.S. since January. While purchasing cheaper goods across the border might be common practice, as emphasized by Joaquin Luken, it involves significant risks. The price rise in eggs has not only impacted consumers but has also attracted the attention of opportunistic buyers looking to cut costs, inadvertently increasing the risk of introducing serious diseases into the country.

Health and Economic Concerns

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has underscored the risks associated with importing raw eggs, citing diseases such as the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Virulent Newcastle disease (VND). These diseases could greatly endanger public health and agricultural stability. As a preventive measure, CBP enforces regulations prohibiting the entry of raw or fresh eggs, raw chicken, unprocessed avian products, and live birds from Mexico.

CBP Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki wrote this on X: “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.”

The rise in egg prices is directly linked to the outbreak, which led to the slaughter of approximately 160 million birds, predominantly egg-laying hens. The federal government allocated nearly $2 billion for the bird flu response, including $1.2 billion to compensate farmers affected by the pandemic.

International Aid and Local Measures

To mitigate the shortage, a preliminary agreement with Turkey allows for the shipment of 15,000 tonnes (33 million pounds) of eggs to the U.S. through July 2025. This move aims to stabilize the supply chain and help normalize availability and pricing until local stocks recover. Rehiring workers involved in the bird flu response is part of ongoing federal efforts to support the agricultural sector during this crisis.

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

The federal government continues to monitor the situation, reinforcing the importance of following importation laws and recommendations. As border control continues its mission, the cooperation of the public is crucial to maintaining national health security and economic stability in these challenging times.