Staff Reports
The Pentagon — labeled in the memo as the Department of War — has quietly signed off on a limited loan of a military-grade “heat ray” to the Department of Homeland Security so DHS can test it at the southern border. The memo signed by DoW Secretary Pete Hegseth authorizes a seven-month temporary loan of one Active Denial System (ADS) that began in September. For anyone worried about open borders and weak deterrents, this is a development worth watching — but it also raises big questions about safety, oversight, and common sense at the frontline of border security.
The memo and what it actually authorizes
The memo makes clear DHS gets the ADS for seven months, with DHS entirely responsible for how it’s used. The military will not operate the system. The ADS is being loaned — not permanently transferred — and DHS can request more time after the trial period ends. The device was used by the military in the past in combat zones, then taken out of active combat deployment. Officials describe it as nonlethal, but “nonlethal” is not the same as harmless, and any experiment on America’s border deserves sharp oversight.
How the Active Denial System — the “heat ray” — works
The ADS shoots an invisible beam of electromagnetic waves that can reach just over half a mile. When the beam touches skin, it causes an intense burning sensation that Pentagon descriptions compare to opening a hot oven — a feeling that can last 10 to 15 minutes and gives an “instinctive and irresistible urge to run.” DHS says it’s evaluating technology that can save lives and enhance national security. Conservatives who want secure borders should support smart tools, but that support must come with demand for transparency, strict rules of engagement, and medical review.
What conservatives should ask — and expect
First, we must insist on clear limits: where will the ADS be used, who will approve its activation, and what medical monitoring will happen afterward? Second, civil liberties and humanitarian concerns matter; using a device that causes intense pain—even if labeled nonlethal—must be carefully justified and narrowly applied. Third, the border is a dangerous place. Earlier this month the military sent extra troops to the Rio Grande Valley after cartel gunfire — so officials say they need new nonlethal options. Still, “need” does not mean “no questions.” If DHS is going to test a heat ray on people crossing our border, Congress and the public should see the rules up front.
In short: if you want a secure border, support tools that deter illegal entry and protect agents. But don’t let bureaucrats run experiments in the dark. The ADS loan is a big step and a test of whether DHS will wield new technology responsibly. Conservatives should push for strong oversight, clear reporting, and firm limits so border security becomes smarter — not just scarier or more arbitrary. After all, defending the rule of law doesn’t mean surrendering it to the latest gadget.
