ICE Faces Backlash Over Electric Shock Glove Purchase

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has signed a $16.7 million contract to buy 6,000 electric shock gloves. These gloves are intended for detainee and protester control. Civil rights groups and Democratic members of Congress strongly oppose this decision, questioning the potential misuse by ICE officers.

The contract was awarded without competitive bidding to Compliant Technologies LLC, a company based in Kentucky. This agreement covers not only the acquisition of the gloves but also includes support equipment and services, spanning over six months.

“The blatant and tragic misuse of force in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston, Maine, and other locations around the country raises significant skepticism about the agency’s professional capability to safely deploy a new tool that could be used to harm Americans without cause,” stated a letter from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and her colleagues.

ICE’s decision comes despite the agency facing significant scrutiny over its force use, particularly under President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Cortez Masto, along with 15 other Democratic Senators, demanded the agency retract its plan in a recent letter to ICE’s acting director.

The gloves function as regular patrol gloves until an activation button is pressed. Direct application to skin delivers an electric shock, promoted as a tool to compel compliance in resistant individuals. Some local police departments and jails have employed these in recent times.

The notice from ICE lacked elaboration, simply stating the gloves would be used under “approved policy, training, and accountability standards.” However, critics demand detailed public disclosures about the training, documentation, and internal reviews to prohibit misuse.

The Department of Homeland Security defended the purchase, criticizing politicians attempting to restrict safety equipment as undermining officer protection.