Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo last month authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to temporarily borrow a military device known as the Active Denial System, according to documents obtained by CNN. The authorization permits a seven-month loan of the equipment beginning in September, with the possibility of extended use if the DHS requests it.
The Active Denial System is a non-lethal weapon that emits an energy beam producing what military officials have characterized as an intense burning sensation on the skin’s surface. The device uses millimeter waves rather than infrared technology, despite its common reference as a “heat ray.” Pentagon officials have likened the sensation to the heat from opening a hot oven, with effects lasting between 10 and 15 minutes. A 2012 Marine Corps announcement stated the system complies with US international legal obligations and officials indicated they found it safe for use.
The memo indicates that the DHS will hold sole responsibility for the system’s operation and development of procedures for its use, with no Department of Defense personnel authorized to operate it. A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson stated the agency was “continually evaluating new technology, especially technology that can save lives while simultaneously enhancing national security effectiveness,” though the specific operational plans remain unclear.
The Active Denial System was initially deployed to Afghanistan nearly two decades ago but was returned without being used, according to the Washington Post. During a previous administration, officials reportedly considered the system for areas experiencing high numbers of unauthorized border crossings or for crowd dispersal purposes, though it was never deployed. Attempts were also made to utilize the technology for other domestic purposes, according to reporting on prior administration activities.
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