ICE’s $10-20 Million Plan to Equip Officers With Electric Shock Gloves Draws Criticism From Democrats and Civil Rights Groups

Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced plans Wednesday to purchase electrical shock devices for its officers, triggering swift backlash from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights organizations who described the equipment as dangerous and unnecessary. The agency intends to spend between $10 million and $20 million to equip agents with the devices, according to a procurement notice published Monday.

The equipment, called the G.L.O.V.E., consists of patrol gloves that deliver electrical current when activated by a button press. The device must make direct contact with skin to produce pain intended to force compliance from resisting individuals, unlike Tasers which leave visible marks. The purchase size suggests ICE intends to distribute the gloves widely across its officer corps.

New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed strong opposition at a news conference, warning that ICE officers who misuse the devices in her state would face both criminal and civil penalties. Congressional Democrats including Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Maxwell Frost and Delia Ramirez condemned the plan on social media, arguing it provides another unnecessary weapon for the agency.

The Department of Homeland Security defended the procurement in a statement, saying ICE continuously evaluates equipment needs to ensure officers have proper tools for safe arrests and removals. The agency said all technology decisions receive careful review to comply with applicable law enforcement policies and standards.

A pending lawsuit alleges the devices contributed to a man’s death in 2024 at a Kentucky jail, where he received 27 shocks from the gloves and 13 from a Taser. An internal investigation found two shocks lasted 45 and 99 seconds respectively, far exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended 15-second limit and causing unnecessary pain that increased health risks.

Former ICE acting director John Sandweg expressed concern Wednesday that the devices would be easily misused against populations that pose no threat. Michael Mannheimer, a Northern Kentucky University law professor specializing in police use-of-force, warned that ready access to the gloves could encourage officers to employ them prematurely rather than attempting lesser force measures.

The manufacturer’s user manual explicitly prohibits using the devices on elderly people, small children, pregnant women and severely disabled individuals—populations ICE routinely encounters. The manual also forbids deployment in response to verbal defiance or for punishment, torture or horseplay.

The DHS procurement notice indicates a no-bid contract could be awarded as early as Friday, with the contract extending through March 31, 2027. Compliant Technologies LLC, the device manufacturer, declined to comment on the acquisition plan.