Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s plan to equip officers with electric shock gloves has sparked significant backlash from lawmakers and civil rights advocates, raising concerns about potential misuse and the ethics of such devices.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing intense criticism over its proposal to provide officers with gloves capable of delivering painful electric shocks. The plan has drawn ire from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates, who argue that it is both unnecessary and inhumane.
According to a notice published on Monday, ICE intends to invest between $10 million and $20 million in these “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices.” The gloves, referred to as G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), function as standard patrol gloves until activated by a button. When engaged, they deliver a voltage that causes pain, aimed at gaining compliance from individuals who resist arrest. Unlike Tasers, these gloves do not leave burn marks or visible injuries.
The scale of the proposed purchase suggests that ICE plans to equip most, if not all, of its officers with these devices. Historically, similar devices have been utilized more frequently in correctional facilities rather than in street-level enforcement, where ICE officers have faced increasing scrutiny for their use of force during operations, particularly amid heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement under former President Donald Trump’s administration.
New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed her outrage at a press conference, emphasizing that any misuse of the gloves by ICE officers in her state could lead to both criminal and civil repercussions. “We are outraged,” she stated, highlighting the potential for abuse inherent in the use of such devices.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, issued a statement that did not specifically address the gloves or the rationale behind their selection. The statement emphasized that ICE is constantly evaluating the needs of its officers to ensure they have the necessary tools to safely apprehend individuals deemed to be criminal illegal aliens. It asserted that all technology used by ICE is subject to thorough review to ensure compliance with law enforcement policies and standards.
Concerns regarding the safety of these devices have been amplified by a pending lawsuit alleging that a 43-year-old man died in 2024 after being subjected to 27 shocks from the gloves, in addition to 13 shocks from a Taser, while in custody at a jail in Richmond, Kentucky. An internal investigation revealed that two of the shocks from the gloves lasted 45 and 99 seconds, significantly exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended limit of 15 seconds. The investigation concluded that these actions not only caused unnecessary pain but also increased the risk of severe health complications.
Further scrutiny of the gloves has emerged from an Associated Press review, which identified two additional lawsuits claiming injuries related to their use. One case involved a man with pre-existing heart conditions who was shocked at a Las Vegas trade show, while another involved a defendant who reported being mocked after being shocked in court. Both cases were ultimately dismissed.
Several Democratic members of Congress, including Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Maxwell Frost, and Delia Ramirez, have taken to social media to voice their opposition to the gloves, asserting that ICE does not require another weapon. Jayapal remarked on X, “This won’t make anyone safer and in fact just gives ICE another dangerous tool to target citizens and immigrants alike.”
Concerns about the potential for misuse of the gloves have also been echoed by former ICE acting director John Sandweg, who cautioned that the devices could be improperly used against vulnerable populations, including the elderly, small children, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities. The user manual for the gloves explicitly states that they should not be employed in response to verbal defiance or for purposes of punishment, torture, or horseplay.
Michael Mannheimer, a law professor at Northern Kentucky University with expertise in police use-of-force issues, expressed his apprehension regarding the gloves. He questioned whether ICE agents, having immediate access to such devices, might resort to using them more frequently than necessary, bypassing less forceful means of achieving compliance.
The notice published in a DHS database indicates that the solicitation for a no-bid contract to procure the gloves could be released as early as Friday, with the contract potentially lasting until March 31, 2027. The founder of Compliant Technologies LLC, the manufacturer of the gloves, declined to comment on the situation.
As the debate continues, the implications of equipping ICE officers with electric shock gloves remain a contentious issue, raising significant ethical concerns about the treatment of individuals in custody and the potential for abuse of power.
According to The Associated Press, the backlash against ICE’s plan reflects broader anxieties about the agency’s enforcement practices and the tools it employs in its operations.