Military-Grade ‘Voice of God’ Device Used On Minnesota Anti-ICE Protesters

Minnesota State Patrol troopers deployed a military-grade crowd-management system Monday night as unrest tied to federal immigration enforcement spilled beyond Minneapolis and St. Paul into suburban communities after several days of escalating violence.

Authorities confronted an estimated 200 protesters outside a SpringHill Suites hotel in Maple Grove, where demonstrators believed federal immigration agents were staying. After repeated orders to disperse were ignored, officers announced they would activate a long-range acoustic device, or LRAD — technology originally developed for military use that projects highly focused, high-decibel sound to communicate with or disperse crowds.

The LRAD, typically mounted on vehicles or tripods, is capable of broadcasting intelligible voice commands over long distances or emitting powerful deterrent tones that can cause severe discomfort and disorientation. State officials confirmed the device was used strictly in voice-command mode, not for its deterrent function, despite online claims suggesting otherwise.

Law enforcement declared the gathering unlawful after protesters allegedly vandalized property, blocked roadways, and hurled debris at officers. The standoff ended with 26 arrests on charges including unlawful assembly and riotous conduct.

Monday’s confrontation followed days of unrest sparked by the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was killed during a clash with federal agents in Minneapolis. That incident set off nightly demonstrations opposing Operation Metro Surge — the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to remove criminal illegal aliens from Minnesota as part of President Donald J. Trump’s second-term immigration enforcement agenda.

According to law enforcement sources, protesters targeted the Maple Grove hotel believing Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and other agents were staying there, though officials have not confirmed those details.

In a statement, Maple Grove Police said the department “respects First Amendment rights” but “will not tolerate property damage or violence.” Officers said demonstrators were given multiple warnings before the LRAD was announced.

The incident has reignited debate over the safety and legality of LRAD systems. Medical and defense experts have warned that at close range, the devices can cause permanent hearing loss, ruptured eardrums, nausea, vertigo, and panic.

Marine Col. Mark Cancian, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, offered a stark description of the technology’s impact: “We used it in Iraq. If you’re in the cone, it sounds like the voice of God is speaking to you.”

Even when used solely for amplified voice commands, LRAD systems can exceed 140 decibels at full power. Cancian noted, however, that when deployed properly, the technology can help restore order without escalating to tear gas, rubber bullets, or deadly force. “It can avoid lethal outcomes while asserting control,” he said.

Video footage from the protest showed state troopers surrounding the hotel as amplified commands echoed across the area. Some protesters later reported ringing ears and dizziness, though authorities said no hospitalizations were recorded.

The use of the LRAD also comes amid renewed public attention on so-called “sonic weapons” following recent remarks by President Trump. Speaking last week about the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Trump said the U.S. military used “amazing weapons nobody else knows about,” adding, “It’s probably good not to talk about it.”

Subsequent reports out of Venezuela claimed U.S. special forces deployed a directed-energy device to incapacitate Maduro’s security detail. One guard described experiencing a “very intense sound wave” that caused bleeding and disorientation. While those claims remain unverified, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified the account, calling it “a modern marvel of American defense.”

Defense analysts caution that the LRAD used by Minnesota authorities bears no resemblance to the classified military technologies alleged to have been used overseas. The LRAD is commercially available and categorized as a non-lethal crowd-control tool, while true military “sonic” weapons operate at vastly different energy levels.

Still, the timing has fueled speculation online that the Maple Grove deployment represented a domestic test of advanced acoustic systems — an assertion law enforcement officials have firmly rejected.

“This technology was used strictly for communication and public safety,” a Minnesota State Patrol spokesperson said. “Our goal was to prevent physical confrontation.”