A signed Pentagon memo lent Homeland Security a military “heat ray” for seven months to test at the southern border, with civilians—not soldiers—set to run it.
Story Snapshot
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved a loan of one Active Denial System to Homeland Security.
- The memo makes Homeland Security solely responsible for operating and writing procedures, not the military.
- The authorization permits testing and tactics development; it does not itself order deployment.
- A request to extend the loan can follow the seven-month test window based on need.
What The Memo Authorized And Why It Matters
The Defense Department loan covers one Active Denial System, a directed-energy device that creates an intense heat sensation on skin to drive people back from a distance just over half a mile, according to prior military descriptions. The memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sets a seven-month clock starting in September 2026 and makes Homeland Security the operator and policy writer. It denies any military operation of the device and points Homeland Security to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures.
The authorization frames this period as testing, evaluation, and doctrine-building, not fielding. Reports from Cable News Network and Axios stress that the memo allows tests and planning for possible border use but does not order deployment now. A defense official also said Homeland Security can submit an additional request after the loan if it believes the device proves useful in operations. That structure creates a formal path to adoption but keeps the first step limited to evaluation.
How The System Works And The Claimed Use Case
The Active Denial System directs millimeter-wave energy that rapidly heats the top layer of skin. People feel an immediate burning sensation and move away. The effect stops when a person steps out of the beam. The military has described it as a nonlethal crowd-control tool with stand-off range and quick onset, which fits Homeland Security’s interest in dispersing large groups without close contact. Supporters argue it offers an option between voice commands and physical force when groups press toward a barrier.
Homeland Security gains control over training, safety rules, and when to use the device under the memo’s terms. That assignment removes direct military fingerprints but places full duty for safeguards and accountability inside a civilian law-enforcement department. From a conservative view, that aligns with the basic principle that civilian agencies should police the border while the military stays in its lane. The key test is whether Homeland Security publishes clear rules and shows it can use the device without needless harm or mission drift.
The Gaps: Plans, Operators, And Safety Evidence
The public record does not include a site plan, rules of engagement, or a medical protocol. Reports do not name the specific Homeland Security component, the trained operators, or the command chain that would approve use. The memo cited by outlets assigns those tasks to Homeland Security but does not disclose the details. That leaves open questions on exposure limits, protections for children, and procedures near water or steep terrain where a startled person could fall or need rescue.
Pete Hegseth reportedly authorizes DHS to test ‘heat ray’ at #US–#Mexico border
The #Pentagon’s Active Denial System shoots energy beam that causes ‘sensation of intense heat on surface of skin’https://t.co/2W9PyswGPN— J F (@JLynnFraser1) October 22, 2026
Prior debates add more friction. Former officials said a similar idea surfaced in 2018 but was rejected over concerns about treating migrants and citizens like enemy combatants and about possible harm, including second-degree burns seen in past incidents tied to the system’s testing history. Physicians for Human Rights has warned that prolonged exposure could injure eyes and faces, and that some volunteers in military tests suffered burns or blisters. These criticisms do not refute the new memo’s terms; they raise stakes for transparent testing and strict controls.
Accountability And The Road To A Real Decision
The next seven months decide whether this tool moves from theory to a standing option. Homeland Security should publish its tactics, training standards, and after-action review process. Congress should require location disclosures, activation logs, and independent medical oversight before any wider use. A comparative evaluation against existing tools—barriers, warnings, pepper ball markers, and added personnel—would show if the “heat ray” actually reduces injuries, de-escalates faster, and costs less to operate. Results, not rhetoric, should drive the call.
Sources:
military.com, cnn.com, stripes.com, thedailybeast.com, katv.com, visaverge.com, edition.cnn.com, axios.com
