Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning to acquire electric shock gloves for its officers, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates who argue the devices are both cruel and unnecessary. The agency intends to spend between $10 million and $20 million on the "conductive distraction and de-escalation devices," according to a notice revealed by the Associated Press.
The devices, known as G.L.O.V.E., function as standard patrol gloves until an officer activates an electrical mode by pressing a button. To be effective, the gloves must be applied directly to a person's skin, delivering a painful voltage intended to subdue individuals who are resisting. Unlike Tasers, they are not designed to leave burn marks or visible contact evidence.
The scale of the proposed purchase suggests ICE may equip the majority of its officers with this technology. While such gloves have been used by some local law enforcement agencies, their deployment has been more common in jails than in street operations, where ICE officers have reportedly increased their use of force during immigration enforcement actions.
New York Attorney General Letitia James denounced the plan, stating at a press conference that ICE officers misusing the gloves within her state could face legal repercussions. The Department of Homeland Security, ICE's parent agency, issued a statement asserting that the agency "is constantly assessing the needs of our officers in the field to ensure they have the tools and equipment necessary to safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our country." The statement added that all technology acquisitions are carefully reviewed to align with law enforcement policies and standards.
Concerns about the devices' safety and potential for misuse are amplified by pending lawsuits. One case alleges that a 43-year-old man died in 2024 after being subjected to multiple shocks from the gloves and a Taser at a jail in Kentucky. An internal investigation in that case found that some glove shocks exceeded the manufacturer's recommended limit of 15 seconds, lasting 45 and 99 seconds respectively, and concluded these actions "inflicted unnecessary pain and also heightened the risk of serious health complications."
Further legal challenges include allegations of injuries from the gloves at a Las Vegas trade show and in a court setting, though these cases have reportedly been dismissed. Manufacturers of similar devices have cautioned against their use on certain populations, including the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with severe disabilities, populations ICE agents frequently encounter. The user manual for these gloves also warns against their use in response to verbal defiance or for purposes of punishment or torture.
Legal experts and former officials have voiced apprehension. Michael Mannheimer, a law professor at Northern Kentucky University, expressed concern that having such a device readily available might lead officers to employ it excessively, potentially bypassing less forceful methods. Compliant Technologies LLC, the manufacturer of the gloves, declined to comment.