Hegseth Approves Heat Ray Testing at US-Mexico Border
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to test a military-grade heat ray weapon for possible use along the US-Mexico border. The decision involves the Active Denial System, a nonlethal directed-energy device designed to create intense heat sensations on human skin. The Pentagon has approved testing, but operational deployment remains unconfirmed.
Pentagon heat ray testing approval
A Pentagon memorandum signed by Hegseth in September 2026 permits DHS to temporarily borrow the Active Denial System. The authorization allows officials to evaluate the equipment and develop procedures for its possible use in border security operations.
The arrangement places responsibility for testing and operational decisions with DHS rather than Pentagon personnel. Officials have not publicly identified specific testing locations or announced plans to deploy the system against migrants.
Active Denial System technology explained
The Active Denial System uses an invisible beam of electromagnetic energy operating at approximately 95 gigahertz. The millimeter waves penetrate only a shallow layer of skin, rapidly creating an intense burning sensation.
Military officials compare the feeling to opening a hot oven. The discomfort is intended to make people instinctively move away from the beam. Although classified as nonlethal, the technology still raises concerns about injuries from prolonged or improper exposure.
DHS seven-month heat ray testing plan
The Pentagon authorized a seven-month loan beginning in September. DHS can request an extension if officials determine that further evaluation is necessary.
Customs and Border Protection said it continually reviews technologies that could improve operational effectiveness and national security. However, the agency has not explained whether the system would be used for demonstrations, crowd control or other border operations.
US border heat ray safety concerns
The proposed testing raises questions about the use of military technology in immigration enforcement. The system can produce severe discomfort without conventional ammunition, but its application near crowds, vehicles or waterways could create additional risks.
Officials must consider whether the device can be operated safely and whether its use would comply with applicable laws and force policies. Approval to test the equipment does not establish that it is appropriate for every border situation.
Previous military heat ray deployment plans
The US military previously sent the system to Afghanistan but returned it without using it in combat. During Donald Trump's first presidency, officials also discussed possible use along the southern border and during the 2020 protests following George Floyd's killing.
Neither proposal resulted in the reported deployment. The latest authorization revives the question of whether directed-energy technology should play a role in domestic security operations.
