“The military has been developing high-energy laser technology to intercept and destroy drones, which the Trump administration has said are used by Mexican cartels to track Border Patrol agents and smuggle drugs into the United States.”

Military’s Use of Anti-Drone Technology Said to Cause El Paso Airspace Closure

“The U.S. military has been developing high-energy laser weapons to intercept and destroy drones.”

What We Know About the El Paso Airspace Shutdown

“Pentagon staff members briefed him on plans to employ new high-energy laser weapons to take out drones being used by Mexican cartels to smuggle drugs across the southern U.S. border.”

Inside the Debacle That Led to the Closure of El Paso’s Airspace

“But the government deployed experimental laser weapons and shut down the airspace over El Paso on Wednesday, disrupting flights for the thousands of passengers scheduled to fly through the city that day.”

The El Paso drone scare is the future of national security paranoia

“The Defense Department had passed along new laser technology to border officials who were planning to use it to interdict drones crossing into the United States from Mexico.”

Closing of El Paso Airspace Adds to Tension Between F.A.A. and Pentagon