The Aporia · Pete Hegseth has reportedly given DHS permission to test ‘heat ray’ for use at US-Mexico border

Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense, signed a memo last month allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to test the Active Denial System, a non-lethal weapon that emits an intense heat beam causing people to move away reflexively, for seven months at the US-Mexico border. The DHS can request further use if needed and plans to evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing security while saving lives, though specific uses remain unclear. The system has been considered before but never deployed; it produces a 95 gigahertz beam penetrating about 1/64th of an inch into the skin, creating discomfort that lasts around 10-15 minutes.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-22, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

Story summary

Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of defense, reportedly signed a memo in September 2026 allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to test a non-lethal "heat ray" known as the Active Denial System at the US-Mexico border. This weapon uses an energy beam that causes intense heat on skin, leading people to instinctively move away from it. The DHS will have access to the Pentagon's system for seven months and can extend its use if needed.

A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that they are evaluating new technology aimed at saving lives while enhancing national security. However, details about how the Active Denial System will be used remain unclear. When contacted by CNN, the Pentagon referred questions to the DHS, which provided the CBP statement.

Written for “Pete Hegseth And DHS Heat Ray Testing” on 2026-10-22, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of defense, reportedly signed a memo last month permitting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to test a non-lethal “heat ray” for potential use at the US southern border.

right describes the authorization of a weapon for immigration enforcement
During the first Trump administration, officials sought to use the Active Denial System, first in 2018 to stop migrants from crossing the border, the New York Times reported. Later, in 2020, the administration also sought it to control protests in Washington DC after the killing of George Floyd, the Washington Post reported.

right references past attempts by a right-leaning administration to use similar measures

Reading Leans right (beta estimate) Confidence high

Leaning: leans right for article 99494 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-10-22

📰 Pete Hegseth And DHS Heat Ray Testing

Politics · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

Nothing to compare against. No article is close enough to this one for the pipeline to have linked or judged the pair.

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

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Ariana Baio

32 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 The new memo, seen by CNN, states that the DHS will be solely responsible for the system’s “employment, use and development of tactics, techniques and procedures”.

2026-10-22 · mixed framing · Pete Hegseth has reportedly given DHS permission to test ‘heat ray’ for use at US-Mexico border

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A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement it was “continually evaluating new technology, especially technology that can save lives while simultaneously enhancing national security effectiveness”.

framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-22

🔮 The new memo, seen by CNN, states that the DHS will be solely responsible for the system’s “employment, use and development of tactics, techniques and procedures”.

2026-10-22 · The Guardian

Pete Hegseth has reportedly given DHS permission to test ‘heat ray’ for use at US-Mexico border · mixed framing

Pete Hegseth, the US secretary of defense, reportedly signed a memo last month permitting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to test a non-lethal “heat ray” for potential use at the US southern border. uncertain

Hegseth → sign → border

The “heat ray”, known as the Active Denial System, is a military-grade weapon that shoots an energy beam causing “a sensation of intense heat on the surface of the skin”, according to a 2009 National Defense University case study on the weapon. uncertain

that → know → weapon

The sensation “creates an intolerable sensation and reflexive movement” such as ducking or running. asserted

sensation → create → sensation

In a memo, first obtained by CNN, Hegseth authorized a “temporary loan” of the Active Denial System to the DHS for seven months beginning in September. asserted

Hegseth → obtain → September

The DHS can request further use of the Pentagon system if needed. asserted

DHS → request → system

that → say → effectiveness

When asked for comment, the Pentagon referred the Guardian to the DHS, which shared the CBP statement. asserted

which → ask → statement

It is unclear what the DHS plans to use the Active Denial System for exactly, but the memo permits the department to use it for potential operations at the US-Mexico border. uncertain

memo → plan → border

The US military initially brought the system to Afghanistan nearly 20 years ago, but it was quickly returned home without ever being used, the Washington Post reported. asserted

Post → bring → Afghanistan

Previously, CBP officials reportedly considered using the Active Denial System in areas with a large number of illegal crossings or for crowd dispersal, but it was never deployed. uncertain

it → consider → dispersal

When used, the Active Denial System can produce an invisible beam of 95 gigahertz that penetrates about 1/64th of an inch into the skin, causing a burning sensation. asserted

that → use → sensation

(The system is technically not a “heat ray” because it uses millimeter waves, not infrared, Forbes reported in 2020.) asserted

Forbes → use → 2020

Pentagon officials have compared the feeling to a blast of heat when opening a hot oven, according to CNN. uncertain

officials → compare → CNN

The feeling is temporary, lasting between 10 and 15 minutes. asserted

feeling → last → ?

In 2012, the Marine Corps announced that the system was compliant with international legal obligations of the US, and officials said they felt “comfortable” that it was safe. asserted

it → announce → US

The new memo, seen by CNN, states that the DHS will be solely responsible for the system’s “employment, use and development of tactics, techniques and procedures”. asserted

DHS → see → tactics

It also states that no Department of Defense personnel shall operate it. asserted

personnel → state → it

During the first Trump administration, officials sought to use the Active Denial System, first in 2018 to stop migrants from crossing the border, the New York Times reported. asserted

Times → seek → border

Later, in 2020, the administration also sought it to control protests in Washington DC after the killing of George Floyd, the Washington Post reported. asserted

Post → seek → Floyd

Pete Hegseth has reportedly given DHS permission to test ‘heat ray’ for use at US-Mexico border

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