ICE Plans to Equip Officers With Electric-Shock Gloves
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to spend up to $20 million on specialized gloves capable of delivering electric shocks, according to a federal procurement notice. The proposed purchase has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates concerned about how the devices could be used during immigration enforcement.
ICE Plans $20 Million Purchase
The Department of Homeland Security plans to purchase thousands of the devices for ICE officers and agents. The potential contract could be awarded without competitive bidding, with the equipment expected to be obtained by March 2027.
The gloves are known as the G.L.O.V.E., short for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter. They are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC, a Kentucky-based company that markets the device as a law-enforcement and de-escalation tool.
How the Gloves Are Intended to Be Used
The company describes the G.L.O.V.E. as a hands-on device designed to help officers manage situations involving physical resistance. The gloves can deliver electrical pulses through direct contact with the skin.
Compliant Technologies says the device is intended to supplement existing law-enforcement tactics rather than serve as punishment. The company also says users must receive training and periodic recertification.
The proposed ICE purchase would cover agents working in both Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.
Civil Rights Groups Raise Concerns
The planned purchase has sparked criticism from civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union. Critics argue that giving immigration officers another force option could increase concerns about excessive or inappropriate use.
The Associated Press reported that critics are particularly concerned because the device can be used during close physical encounters without the obvious visibility associated with some other law-enforcement equipment.
The manufacturer says the gloves are designed as a non-lethal de-escalation technology and warns against using them as punishment or on certain vulnerable groups.
What Happens Next
The federal government has not yet finalized the purchase. The procurement process could lead to a contract worth between $10 million and $20 million, with thousands of devices potentially delivered to ICE by March 2027.
The proposal is expected to remain under scrutiny as questions continue about training, oversight and the appropriate use of the technology during immigration enforcement.
