The Trump administration is considering a dramatic new approach to securing the southern border, with the Pentagon reportedly authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to test a powerful military-grade heat ray designed to force people to retreat without firing a single bullet.

The technology, known as the Active Denial System, uses an invisible beam of electromagnetic energy to create an intense burning sensation on exposed skin, compelling individuals to move away from the targeted area.

According to CNN, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the testing arrangement in a memorandum signed last month, allowing DHS to evaluate whether the controversial technology could be used in future operations along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The system reportedly has a range exceeding half a mile, potentially giving federal authorities a powerful long-distance tool for dispersing crowds and controlling access to restricted areas.

Military officials have compared the sensation produced by the device to opening an extremely hot oven, describing a “tingling effect” that can last between 10 and 15 minutes.

The technology reportedly creates “an instinctive and irresistible urge to run from the effect.”

Unlike traditional firearms, the Active Denial System is designed to repel individuals without using bullets, explosives or conventional projectiles.

But the prospect of deploying the technology against people attempting to cross the southern border has raised serious questions about safety, legal authority and the possibility of unintended injuries.

Under the reported agreement, DHS is authorized to temporarily borrow one Active Denial System for a seven-month testing period beginning in September.

The Pentagon will not operate the equipment during that period.

The memorandum specifically states that the system “shall not be operated by DoW (Department of War) personnel.”

Instead, DHS will assume responsibility for “system employment, use and development of tactics, techniques and procedures.”

The arrangement gives federal immigration authorities an opportunity to examine the technology’s capabilities and determine whether it could serve a practical role in border security operations.

If the testing produces favorable results, officials could potentially request additional equipment, although no broader deployment has been authorized.

Customs and Border Protection acknowledged its ongoing interest in evaluating new technology that could strengthen federal enforcement capabilities.

“CBP is continually evaluating new technologies, especially those that enhance operational effectiveness and strengthen mission capabilities,” an agency spokesperson told CNN.

The Pentagon referred questions about the arrangement to DHS.

Although the Active Denial System has existed for years, using it along the southern border would represent a significant departure from conventional immigration enforcement tactics.

The military previously transported the technology to Afghanistan but ultimately declined to use it during active combat operations.

Officials also explored potential applications at overseas detention facilities before abandoning those proposals.

Federal border authorities have considered similar uses for the system in the past, particularly in areas where large numbers of migrants were attempting unauthorized crossings.

One earlier evaluation involved the El Centro sector along the California-Mexico border, where officials examined whether the heat ray could discourage crossings near waterways.

Rodney Scott, who now serves as CBP commissioner, oversaw the sector during that previous review.

But the proposal encountered concerns about whether forcing migrants to retreat could create dangerous situations, particularly near rivers and other hazardous terrain.

“Even if they’re chasing people back to the river, you don’t want them to go in and drown,” a former CBP official told CNN.

“For the cost, for the training and for the policies you’re going to create, is the juice worth the squeeze?”

The technology also sparked debate during Trump’s first administration.

In 2018, federal officials reportedly considered deploying the system against groups of migrants approaching the border before then-Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen rejected the proposal.

“The issue was treating immigrants and citizens like enemy combatants,” a former DHS official told CNN.

“Thematically, inhumane treatments typically get rejected.”

Those earlier objections could resurface as the administration evaluates whether the system can be operated safely and legally in an immigration enforcement setting.

One potential complication involves the possibility of the beam reaching individuals standing on Mexican territory, which could trigger diplomatic disputes and questions about federal authority beyond the U.S. border.

Other concerns involve accidental exposure, the risk of injuries and whether the technology could cause people to flee into dangerous locations.

Some Border Patrol personnel have also questioned whether the system is necessary, particularly amid reports of declining illegal border crossings and increased federal staffing.

The financial costs of acquiring, maintaining and operating the equipment could become another factor in determining whether DHS ultimately pursues deployment.

Still, the Pentagon’s reported authorization represents a significant development in the administration’s examination of advanced border enforcement technology.

The Active Denial System would give authorities a fundamentally different crowd-control capability from traditional physical barriers, patrol vehicles and conventional enforcement equipment.

Whether that capability would be effective, proportionate or legally appropriate in civilian border operations remains unresolved.

For now, DHS has permission to test the system and develop potential operating procedures, but officials have not announced plans to deploy the heat ray against migrants at the southern border.

Any decision to move beyond testing would require further consideration of safety, operational effectiveness and legal restrictions governing the use of force.

The immediate development is significant: Federal immigration authorities have reportedly received Pentagon approval to evaluate a military-grade directed-energy weapon for possible border operations, even as major questions remain about how—and whether—it could be used.

Rep. Ilhan Omar has resurfaced following a reported federal raid on her Washington, D.C., residence, delivering a defiant fundraising appeal as she faces mounting scrutiny over an ongoing immigration fraud investigation.

The Minnesota Democrat appeared in a roughly one-minute video Tuesday night, asking supporters to send money to help finance what she described as an increasingly expensive battle against President Donald Trump and his administration.

According to the New York Post, Omar recorded the video from the back of a vehicle, marking a public reappearance following last week’s reported search of her home in connection with a years-long immigration fraud investigation.

Federal agents reportedly seized Omar’s phone, notebooks, computers and passport during the search, according to the newspaper.

Omar has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and no criminal conviction or finding of immigration fraud has been established in the supplied reporting.

But rather than provide a detailed public explanation addressing the allegations, Omar used her latest appearance to solicit financial contributions and accuse the Trump administration of attempting to intimidate her.

“Thank you so much again, and please continue to support us,” Omar said.

The congresswoman warned supporters that the coming weeks could prove financially burdensome, describing the situation as “a very expensive and challenging time.”

She then encouraged contributions of $5, $10 or $20, presenting the fundraising effort as part of a broader political fight against the administration.

Omar claimed the donations would help “fight Trump and his administration for trying to intimidate me and so many other people.”

The appeal comes at a politically sensitive moment, with the November 3 midterm elections approaching and Democrats attempting to gain control of Congress.

Omar’s video offered no detailed accounting of how much money has already been raised or precisely how the requested contributions would be spent.

It also did not provide a substantive explanation of the reported immigration allegations or address the specific materials federal investigators allegedly seized.

Instead, the congresswoman focused heavily on portraying the investigation as an attempt to silence her political opposition to Trump.

“We know that they’re running scared,” Omar said, accusing her political opponents of acting out of fear.

“We’re not going to be intimidated,” she added during the message.

Omar also pledged to return to campaigning alongside supporters, tying her personal legal confrontation to Democrats’ efforts to capture the House and Senate.

She said the party would work to hold the Trump administration accountable if Democrats gained congressional power.

The message effectively transformed the reported federal investigation into a political fundraising appeal, with Omar asking supporters to help finance her continued resistance to the administration.

Meanwhile, the New York Post reported that federal officials are pursuing an investigation that could potentially raise questions about Omar’s citizenship status.

The newspaper described the possibility of denaturalization and eventual deportation to Somalia, Omar’s country of birth, as potential consequences if immigration fraud were established through the appropriate legal process.

However, those possibilities remain speculative. The supplied reporting does not establish that federal authorities have initiated successful denaturalization proceedings, obtained a conviction or secured any final ruling affecting Omar’s citizenship.

Omar, who came to the United States as a refugee and became a naturalized American citizen in 2000, has consistently rejected allegations involving her immigration history.

The investigation has nevertheless placed renewed attention on the congresswoman’s background and the allegations that have followed her throughout her political career.

For Omar, the stakes extend beyond the approaching election.

The reported seizure of personal devices, records and her passport suggests investigators were seeking materials potentially relevant to their inquiry, although the contents and evidentiary significance of those items have not been publicly established.

The congresswoman’s fundraising appeal also raises questions about whether contributions are intended for legal expenses, campaign operations or a combination of political activities.

Her video did not clarify those details.

At the same time, Omar has maintained that the administration’s actions will not prevent her from continuing her work in Congress or participating in the upcoming elections.

Her accusations of political intimidation remain contested, and the existence of a federal investigation does not by itself establish either misconduct by Omar or improper motives by investigators.

For now, Omar is back in public view and asking supporters to open their wallets. But the questions surrounding the reported federal search, the immigration allegations and the intended use of the money she is soliciting remain unanswered.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he is committing more than $400 million to Republican election efforts, unveiling an enormous financial push as the GOP fights to maintain control of Congress with just two weeks remaining before the November 3 midterm elections.

The president revealed that more than $300 million has already been spent on Republican campaign operations, with additional spending planned before voters head to the polls.

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, emphasizing his commitment to the Republican Party and pointing to unrest in Europe as part of his reasoning for the massive expenditure.

“Because of my belief in the Republican Party, and all of our Policies and Principles, and especially after witnessing what is taking place in France, and other locations throughout Europe, I am pleased to announce that, having to do with the Most Important Midterm Elections in our Country’s History, I have spent, or will be spending, over 400 Million Dollars by Election Day,” Trump wrote.

The announcement comes at a critical moment for Republicans, who are battling to protect their congressional majorities in an election that could dramatically alter the political landscape for the remaining two years of Trump’s presidency.

And according to the president, the overwhelming majority of the money has already been put to work.

More than $300 million has reportedly been directed toward advertising, voter outreach, campaign rallies and other election-related operations designed to support Republican candidates nationwide.

Trump outlined the extensive campaign activities receiving financial support in a second statement.

“More than 300 Million Dollars has already been spent on Advertising, Direct and Indirect Voter Contact, Rallies, Rally Arenas, Telerallies, Get Out the Vote Programs, Election Integrity, and more,” Trump added.

“It is my Great Honor to do so on behalf of the Republican Party, which has done so much to bring our Country back from the Edge of Oblivion.”

The extraordinary spending announcement underscores the financial stakes of an election that could determine whether Republicans retain the congressional power necessary to advance the administration’s legislative priorities.

Trump’s statement indicates that additional funds will be deployed before Election Day, although he did not disclose exactly how much remains unspent or identify the congressional races expected to benefit.

The president also did not provide a detailed accounting of the funding sources behind the $400 million commitment.

Republicans have reportedly maintained a fundraising and spending advantage during portions of the election cycle, although that financial edge has not consistently produced favorable polling results in competitive races.

The massive spending declaration comes as both parties pour resources into closely contested House districts and Senate races, where even narrow shifts in voter turnout could determine which party controls Congress.

Trump’s reference to France and other European countries added another dimension to his announcement.

Recent demonstrations in France over rising living costs and public services have reportedly escalated into violent confrontations, looting and attacks on government buildings.

The president specifically cited those developments while explaining his support for Republican policies and principles, though he did not elaborate on how the unrest directly influenced his spending decisions.

The midterm elections carry enormous consequences for the Trump administration.

If Republicans maintain control of the House and Senate, the party would retain its ability to pursue legislation in coordination with the White House.

Democratic gains, particularly a shift in control of either chamber, could create significant obstacles for the president’s legislative agenda and increase congressional scrutiny of his administration.

That makes the final stretch of campaigning especially consequential, with both parties concentrating their resources on voter turnout, advertising and competitive races across the country.

Trump’s announcement also illustrates the central role he continues to play in Republican election operations, using his political influence and financial resources to support the party’s efforts.

However, the president’s statement did not establish whether the entire $400 million represents his personal funds, affiliated political organizations or other Republican fundraising operations.

And despite the enormous sum involved, there is no guarantee that additional spending will translate into victories in closely contested races.

Polling in several competitive congressional contests has indicated narrow margins, leaving control of Congress uncertain as Election Day approaches.

Still, Trump’s announcement puts a staggering dollar figure on the Republican Party’s final election push.