U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are set to be equipped with gloves capable of delivering powerful electric shocks, a plan that has drawn sharp criticism from elected officials and civil rights groups. The devices, known as GLOVE (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are designed to cause pain and impair an individual's ability to respond within seconds by administering voltage through direct skin contact.
The proposed rollout of these conductive distraction and de-escalation devices comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of ICE's tactics. The potential cost of the program is estimated to be up to $20 million.
Critics argue the gloves are unnecessary and cruel. New York Attorney General Letitia James stated that ICE officers misusing the gloves in her state could face criminal and civil consequences. Several Democratic members of Congress, including Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Maxwell Frost, and Delia Ramirez, have voiced concerns on social media, with Jayapal asserting that the gloves provide ICE with "another dangerous tool to target citizens and immigrants alike."
The manufacturer's guidelines warn that the gloves should not be used against certain populations ICE agents frequently encounter, such as the elderly, small children, pregnant women, and the severely handicapped. The user manual also cautions against using the devices in response to verbal defiance or for punishment, torture, or horseplay.
Concerns have also been raised about potential misuse and disproportionate force. Former ICE acting director John Sandweg noted that it is "too easy for this to get misused, against a population that doesn't pose a threat." Law professor Michael Mannheimer echoed these concerns, questioning whether agents might resort to using the gloves when lesser force would be appropriate.
The Department of Homeland Security, ICE's parent agency, issued a statement indicating that ICE continually assesses its officers' needs to ensure they have necessary tools for safe arrests and removals, and that all technology utilized is consistent with applicable law enforcement policies and standards.
Questions about the safety and potential for misuse of such devices have been amplified by past incidents. A pending lawsuit alleges that a 43-year-old man died in 2024 after being shocked multiple times with the gloves and a Taser at a Kentucky jail. An internal investigation in that case found some glove shocks lasted significantly longer than the manufacturer's recommended 15-second limit, potentially increasing the risk of serious health complications.
An Associated Press review uncovered two other lawsuits alleging injuries from the gloves, though both were dismissed. One involved a man with heart problems shocked at a Las Vegas trade show, and another concerned a defendant shocked unnecessarily in court.
The notice for a potential no-bid contract to purchase the gloves indicated it could be released as early as Friday, with the contract intended to last through March 31, 2027. The manufacturer, Compliant Technologies LLC, declined to comment.