The Pentagon, the United States Department of Defense, has authorized testing of a heat-ray weapon for possible use at the southern border, according to a memo issued in September and signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The directive follows internal reviews that considered whether a non-lethal system could help deter unlawful crossings while avoiding deadly force.
The system, called the Active Denial System, projects a focused microwave beam that quickly raises the temperature of the skin’s outer layer. When the beam contacts a person, the sudden heat creates an intense, short-lived discomfort that typically lasts only a few seconds, prompting the individual to step back or move away. This reaction is intended to be a clear warning without causing permanent injury, and it works even through clothing because the energy is absorbed at the surface.
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The Department of Homeland Security will operate the device and develop tactics and use cases during a seven-month loan period. They intend to run a series of controlled trials that will examine how the system performs under different environmental conditions and how it interacts with existing crowd-control tools. The agency also plans to draft safety guidelines, training manuals, and rules of engagement that outline when and how agents may employ the technology.
During the loan term, the DHS team will collect data on effectiveness, potential health impacts, and public response. Their analysis will include feedback from field officers, medical experts, and legal advisors to ensure that any future deployment complies with federal regulations and respects civil-rights considerations.
