US Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to spend up to $20 million on gloves capable of delivering painful electric shocks to people during confrontations, according to an Associated Press report based on a Department of Homeland Security procurement notice.
The devices, known as G.L.O.V.E., or Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, are designed to look and function like ordinary patrol gloves until an officer activates their electrical mode. The AP reported that ICE could purchase thousands of the devices under a proposed no-bid contract, with a solicitation potentially being published as early as Friday.
The gloves are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC, a company based in Lexington, Kentucky. The devices have been used by some police departments and jails in recent years.
How the electric shock gloves work
According to the manufacturer, officers activate the gloves with a switch and must make direct contact with a person’s skin to deliver an electric shock. The company says the resulting pain can help officers gain compliance within seconds.
John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, told AP that the sensation is immediate and sharp, comparing it to a bee sting. He said the technology could help officers restrain people who resist being removed from vehicles, homes or detention facilities.
Peters also told AP that the planned ICE purchase could be the company’s largest to date. He said the devices could provide an advantage in situations involving officers who may have difficulty physically overpowering a resisting person.
The manufacturer says officers must complete training before using the devices and undergo recertification every two years.
Civil rights groups raise concerns
The proposed purchase has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates, who questioned whether electric-shock devices are appropriate for immigration enforcement.
Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy project director on policing at the American Civil Liberties Union, told AP that ICE’s record on the use of force raises concerns about how the devices could be deployed.
She questioned why the technology would be necessary for civil immigration enforcement and warned that people could be shocked without advance warning.
The manufacturer’s own guidance says the gloves should not be used as punishment or against people who are merely verbally defiant or belligerent. It also warns against using them on high-risk groups including children, pregnant women, elderly people and people with disabilities.
DHS and manufacturer have not commented
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately provide a substantive response to AP’s questions about the planned purchase. DHS said Tuesday that it was preparing a response.
Jeff Niklaus, founder and CEO of Compliant Technologies, also declined to comment on the ICE procurement.
Supporters of the technology say it is intended for specific situations rather than routine street patrols. Compliant Technologies says its devices have been used to restrain violent suspects and inmates who pose a danger to themselves or officers.
Peters told AP that, like other policing technologies, the gloves could potentially be misused by individual employees. He said appropriate policies and training would be important if ICE moves forward with the purchase.
The proposed procurement comes as ICE faces growing scrutiny over its use of force during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign.
