Pentagon grants DHS permission to test heat ray weapon for potential use at border

Key Points:

• The Pentagon has authorized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to test the Active Denial System (ADS), a military-grade, nonlethal heat ray, for potential use at the southern US border, with a temporary loan of one system for seven months starting in September.
• The ADS emits an electromagnetic beam causing a burning sensation on the skin, prompting an instinctive urge to flee, and has previously been considered for crowd control but never deployed due to concerns over legality, effectiveness, and potential harm.
• DHS is responsible for the system's use and development of tactics, while the Pentagon absolves itself of operational responsibility; the system's deployment at the border would be unprecedented and has faced internal debate regarding ethical and practical implications.
• Past considerations of the ADS included use during domestic unrest and high-concentration illegal crossing areas, but concerns about treating migrants as enemy combatants and the potential for causing harm have prevented its deployment.
• Some Border Patrol agents question the need for the ADS amid current low border crossings and increased personnel, reflecting ongoing uncertainty about the weapon's role in border security operations.