U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has secured a $16.7 million contract to obtain 6,000 pairs of gloves capable of delivering electric shocks. These gloves are intended for use by officers to manage detainees and protesters who resist.

The decision to proceed with this purchase has drawn opposition from civil rights advocates and Democratic members of Congress. They express concerns about ICE officers’ ability to use these devices responsibly. A notice made public on Thursday revealed that ICE entered into a no-bid contract with Compliant Technologies LLC, a company based in Kentucky, for the acquisition. The deal includes not just the gloves, but also support equipment and services.

Civil rights groups criticize ICE for its use of force, claiming there is insufficient oversight while implementing policies from the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. In response to the contract, a group of U.S. senators, led by Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, urged ICE to reconsider. In a letter addressed to ICE’s acting director, they questioned the necessity of the devices.

The letter expressed significant skepticism about the professional competence of ICE to safely use a tool that could harm Americans without cause, citing past incidents in various U.S. cities.

ICE previously announced its intention to purchase thousands of these “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” earlier this month. These gloves are designed to function normally until activated by a button, delivering a shock when applied directly to the skin. Some local law enforcement agencies have used similar devices.

ICE stated that the gloves would be used in “high-tension environments” such as during arrests, transporting difficult detainees, and handling disturbances outside detention facilities. The objective is to enable officers to manage situations swiftly to prevent injuries, without resorting to severe force like firearms. However, the notice did not provide specific details about policy, training, or accountability standards for the gloves’ use.

Senators emphasized the importance of public disclosure regarding officer training and documentation procedures to prevent misuse. ICE’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, defended the decision, criticizing efforts to restrict law enforcement from using safety equipment.