It Appears That Immigration Officials Caused the El Paso Airport Shutdown When They Panic-Fired a Powerful Laser Weapon at a Children's Balloon

"The closure launched a flurry of speculation about the cause, from an imminent invasion to rogue anti-aircraft weapons. It later turned out that the order, which would've closed the airport for ten days, was issued by Federal Aviation Administration administrator Bryan Bedford after finding out that US officials' use of a high-energy, counter-drone laser weapon at Fort Bliss, a US Army post right next to the El Paso International Airport."

"The enemy drone swarm turned out to be a simple party balloon, a potentially enormous - and unintentionally hilarious - overreaction, contradicting claims by the White House of an imminent drone incursion from Mexican drug cartels. Now, the New York Times reports that the anti-drone laser was used by Customs and Border Protection officials, who had loaned the device from the Department of Defense, yet another confusing wrinkle in an already chaotic series of events."

"The latest development highlights the Trump administration's ongoing militarization of CBP, enabling its personnel to use military-grade equipment, often against unarmed individuals, from drones and helicopters to armored vehicles. The CBP's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in particular, has been at the center of a violent, nationwide crackdown, resulting in at least two deaths, triggering congressional investigations. The latest embarrassing slip-up was similarly met with furor among lawmakers."

Federal officials abruptly closed El Paso airspace, effectively shutting the city's international airport, after learning a high-energy counter-drone laser had been used at nearby Fort Bliss. The FAA administrator issued an order that would have closed the airport for ten days. Officials initially speculated about an imminent invasion or anti-aircraft weapons. The laser strike targeted what was believed to be a Mexican cartel drone but proved to be a party balloon. Customs and Border Protection had loaned the device from the Department of Defense. The episode underscores concerns about CBP militarization and prompted strong reactions from lawmakers.

Read at Futurism