Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to equip officers with gloves that deliver electric shocks, a move facing criticism from Democratic officials and civil rights advocates. Critics label the plan as unnecessary and cruel.
ICE intends to allocate $10 million to $20 million for these “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices,” as noted in a recent notice. The G.L.O.V.E., an acronym for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, functions as a regular patrol glove until activated by an officer. For efficacy, the glove must make direct skin contact, delivering a voltage to encourage compliance from resistant individuals. Unlike Tasers, these do not leave burn marks.
The planned purchase size indicates that most, if not all, ICE officers might receive these gloves. They are currently more prevalent in jails than on the streets, where ICE conducts forceful extraction of individuals from vehicles. This has prompted protests during enforcement of President Trump’s immigration policies.
“We are outraged,” New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, indicating potential criminal and civil consequences for misuse in New York.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE’s parent agency, emphasized its focus on equipping officers safely but did not elaborate on this specific tool.
A lawsuit alleges that these gloves contributed to a 43-year-old man’s death in Kentucky. He experienced 27 shocks from the gloves, beyond the recommended duration. Other lawsuits have emerged, yet some have been dismissed. An investigation raised concerns over the potential health impacts of prolonged shocks.
Several Democratic Congress members, like Pramila Jayapal, Maxwell Frost, and Delia Ramirez, criticized ICE for acquiring another weapon, asserting it endangers citizens and immigrants.
Experts, including a former ICE director and a law professor concerned about federal law enforcement, expressed worry over potential misuse. The gloves should not target vulnerable populations like the elderly or children. There is apprehension that agents might bypass milder force options in favor of immediate use of these gloves. Compliant Technologies LLC, the manufacturer, declined to comment on these developments.