Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Authorizes 'Heat Ray' Testing at US-Mexico Border
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the Department of Homeland Security to test a non-lethal Active Denial System, a 'heat ray' weapon, for potential use at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Original PrimaryBrief article graphic. Not a photograph of the event.
THE PRIMARY BRIEF
01 · The primary finding
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the Department of Homeland Security to test a non-lethal Active Denial System, known as a "heat ray," for potential use at the U.S.-Mexico border, initiating a seven-month loan of the system starting September 2026.
02 · The primary evidence
A memo signed by Secretary Hegseth, reportedly obtained by CNN, outlines the temporary loan and transfers full operational responsibility to DHS for testing and tactical development.
03 · Why it matters
This decision revives a controversial weapon system previously rejected for border use over ethical concerns, raising questions about human rights and the nature of border enforcement.
23 cited sources · 15 independent publishers
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in September 2026 to test the Active Denial System (ADS), a "heat ray" weapon, for potential use at the U.S.-Mexico border. This authorization involves a temporary, seven-month loan of one ADS unit to DHS.
The decision revives a controversial weapon system previously considered for border use but rejected due to ethical concerns and questions about treating individuals like enemy combatants. Its potential deployment could ignite further debate over border security and human rights implications.
What the records show
The ADS is a non-lethal directed-energy weapon that emits an invisible beam of 95 gigahertz millimeter waves. This beam penetrates approximately 1/64th of an inch into the skin, activating superficial pain receptors to create an intense, temporary burning sensation without causing physical injury. The sensation ceases when a person moves out of the beam and subsides within 10 to 15 minutes.