DHS to Test Heat Ray Weapon at US-Mexico Border

Eduardo Munoz / REUTERS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given his stamp of approval for the testing of an unusual “heat ray” weapon at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Pentagon gave the Department of Homeland Security an official go-ahead to test and potentially deploy the military-grade Active Denial System, which produces a focused beam of energy waves that can reach up to just over a half mile away and produce an “intolerable” burning sensation under the surface of the skin, according to a memo obtained by CNN .

Hegseth signed and approved a seven-month loan for the weapon, but appeared to have wanted to shield the Pentagon from any potential blowback by including a clause that stated the technology would not be operated by any Department of Defense personnel, CNN reporting shows.

According to a fact sheet from the official Marine Corps website , the “non-lethal” ADS penetrates less than a millimeter of skin to create a heating sensation that compels the targeted individual to flee without causing injury.

These claims were echoed in Hegseth’s memo.

The memo did not specify where or how the weapon would be used.

The system has repeatedly been floated as a potential tool for crowd dispersal, and was even deployed to Afghanistan by the U.S. military in 2010, but it was ultimately never used.

The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Critics have warned of serious safety concerns.

The nonprofit organization Physicians for Human Rights said in a 2020 brief that certain parts of the body with less skin protection, such as the eyes and face, could be at risk of injury under extended exposure.

“The little data that is available points to some serious concerns,” the brief said.

“Testing on military volunteers identified several cases of skin burns, blisters, or prolonged pain… Capable of penetrating about 0.4 mm into the body, the electromagnetic waves could potentially access blood vessels, nerves, and glands.” The loan of the weapon to the DHS comes after the agency had more than 1,200 violent arrests by July, according to an ACLU study , and more than 20 deaths in its custody this year.

Hegseth’s decision to approve testing of the weapon comes as he faces mounting blowback for his moves at the Pentagon.

He’s been accused of misleading the president on the war in Iran, prioritizing optics over meaningful reforms, and creating a crisis of morale with his leadership.