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The United States government authorized the testing of a military weapon known as a “heat ray” to evaluate its potential use at the border with Mexico, as detailed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. How will this weapon work and in what case would it be used? Below, we tell you what is known about its approval and use.
The measure was approved by the head of the United States Department of War and will allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to experiment with this technology, designed to cause an intense burning sensation on the skin and move people away from a designated area.
According to media outlets like Axios, the authorization includes a seven-month temporary loan of the Active Denial System (ADS). However, this does not mean the military-grade weapon will be used directly against migrants: for now, authorities will be able to test it and develop strategies to determine if it would be viable to incorporate it into border operations.
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How does the so-called “heat ray” work?
According to the description, the device fires an invisible beam of electromagnetic energy that quickly heats the surface of the skin. Its range can reach up to 1,000 meters and the sensation it causes has been compared by military officials to the blast of heat felt when opening the door of a lit oven.
The “intolerable” pain generates an almost immediate reflex to move away from the energy source. This intense sensation disappears when the person moves out of the beam's range, although tingling or sensitivity may remain for about 10 to 15 minutes.
The weapon was designed to be non-lethal, but that does not mean it is risk-free: there are at least two documented incidents in which people suffered second-degree burns, one during a laboratory accident in 1999 and another in a training exercise in 2007, notes Axios.
As reported by CNN, Hegseth authorized the temporary use for seven months, but the DHS may request prolonged use of the Pentagon system if necessary.
“CBP continuously evaluates new technologies, especially those that improve operational effectiveness and strengthen mission capabilities,” a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson stated in a statement to CNN.
It is worth mentioning that it had previously been considered to use the same type of weapon for riots, such as the mass protests in the United States over the murder of George Floyd due to police abuse in 2020.
For its part, The Washington Post reported at the time that the U.S. military brought this type of weapon to the war in Afghanistan nearly 20 years ago, but it was not used as expected. Likewise, officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also considered its use in areas with the highest illegal border crossing between Mexico and the United States, but it was never implemented.
The potential use of this technology at the border has raised questions about its risks, its effectiveness, and the legal implications of using it against people attempting to enter the United States.
One concern is that someone exposed to the beam could be near a river or other dangerous location and end up injured while trying to escape. There are also questions about the use of a military weapon to control migrants, states Axios.
The new authorization brings the debate back to the use of military technology to control the U.S. southern border. Patrick Weaver, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff, stated in a post on X that the border has become a military installation and a testing ground for new systems, including directed-energy weapons. For its part, the CBP noted that it is evaluating new technologies to improve its operational capabilities and strengthen national security.
[Publicidad]