ICE Plans to Equip Officers with Electric Shock Gloves
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers may soon use gloves capable of delivering painful electric shocks. These are intended to gain compliance from uncooperative individuals. ICE aims to spend up to $20 million to acquire thousands of these devices by March. This information comes from a notice released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday.
The devices, called G.L.O.V.E., stand for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter and are made by Compliant Technologies LLC based in Lexington, Kentucky. Some jails and police departments have already used them in recent years. DHS is preparing a response to an inquiry from the Associated Press but has not yet provided comments. Jeff Niklaus, the founder and CEO of Compliant Technologies, stated in an email that they are unable to discuss the subject.
The Department of Homeland Security notice suggests a no-bid contract could begin by Friday. Civil rights advocates have raised concerns about this plan. They note that ICE officers already face criticism regarding their use of force, with little oversight and accountability while enforcing immigration laws.
Compliant Technologies states these gloves function like normal patrol gloves until officers activate them by pressing a switch. For the gloves to deliver pain, they must touch the individual’s skin, potentially gaining compliance within seconds. John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, described the sensation as sharp and distracting, similar to a bee sting. He is studying the device’s use.
Peters believes that ICE’s purchase could be the company’s largest to date. He envisions ICE using the gloves for removing uncooperative subjects from cars or houses and managing them in detention facilities. He emphasized their advantage for smaller, weaker, or older officers, leading to more efficient takedowns and shortened confrontations.
“It’s immediate, sharp, and it will distract you.” – John Peters
The manufacturer cautions against using the gloves as punishment or against people showing only verbal defiance. The gloves should not be used on high-risk groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, or disabled individuals.
The American Civil Liberties Union’s deputy project director on policing, Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, expressed doubts about ICE’s ability to use these devices properly. She questioned their necessity in civil immigration enforcement, noting that those shocked might receive no warning. Borchetta added that these gloves are a potential risk to the public.
“Introducing gloves that can so easily be used to deliver terrible pain in encounters is a recipe for harm to the public.” – Jenn Rolnick Borchetta
Supporters say the gloves are generally used in specific situations like jails and transport rather than street patrol. They help subdue violent suspects refusing to enter vehicles and inmates harming themselves. Peters acknowledged potential misuse by a small number of employees but believed injuries were unlikely. He stressed the importance of strong policies and training for ICE.
Officers must finish a training course and be recertified every two years to use the gloves, according to the manufacturer.