2 weeks ago
ICE Plans Electric Shock Gloves for Agents Amid Misuse Fears
The immigration police in the United States, called ICE, wants to give its officers special gloves.
These gloves look normal, but when an officer presses a button, they can give someone a painful electric shock.
ICE says the gloves will help officers safely arrest people who are breaking immigration laws.
The plan costs between 10 and 20 million dollars.
Many leaders and groups think the gloves are a bad idea because they are afraid officers will use them too much or on people who are not dangerous.
A lawsuit says a man died in 2024 after being shocked with the gloves many times.
The company that makes the gloves says they should not be used on children, old people, pregnant women, or people with serious health problems.
Some people say the gloves could hurt people who are just trying to obey.
The gloves would be given to many ICE officers, but lots of people are asking the plan to stop.
ICE plans to spend $10 million to $20 million on 'conductive distraction and de-escalation devices' known as the GLOVE, which deliver painful shocks when pressed directly against skin.
Democratic elected officials and civil rights advocates criticized the plan as unnecessary and cruel, with New York Attorney General Letitia James warning that misusing officers could face criminal and civil consequences.
A pending lawsuit alleges a 43-year-old man died in 2024 after being shocked 27 times with the gloves and 13 times by a Taser at a jail in Richmond, Kentucky.
An internal investigation found two glove shocks lasted 45 and 99 seconds, far exceeding the manufacturer's recommended 15-second limit.
The solicitation for a no-bid contract could be released as early as Friday, with the contract running through March 31, 2027; the gloves are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC.
ICE did not directly address the criticism, with DHS saying every decision is carefully considered and reviewed to ensure consistency with law enforcement policies and standards.
- Who
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which plans to outfit officers with the GLOVE; critics include New York Attorney General Letitia James, Democratic members of Congress, and civil rights advocates.
- What
- A plan to purchase electric shock gloves ('conductive distraction and de-escalation devices') for ICE officers, intended to gain compliance from people who are resisting.
- Where
- The United States; incidents cited include a jail in Richmond, Kentucky, and a Las Vegas trade show.
- When
- The purchase notice was published Monday; criticism was voiced Wednesday; a no-bid contract solicitation could be released as early as Friday.
- Why
- ICE says the tools help officers safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens, while critics say the gloves are unnecessary, cruel, and prone to misuse.
Critics: Shock gloves are unnecessary, cruel, and prone to misuse
ICE/DHS: Gloves provide tools to safely enforce immigration law
Need for the device
Critics: Shock gloves are unnecessary, cruel, and prone to misuse
Critics say ICE does not need another weapon and the gloves give officers a dangerous tool to target citizens and immigrants alike.
ICE/DHS: Gloves provide tools to safely enforce immigration law
ICE says it constantly assesses officers' field needs to ensure they have the tools necessary to safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens.
Safety of the device
Critics: Shock gloves are unnecessary, cruel, and prone to misuse
A pending lawsuit alleges a man died after being shocked 27 times, and an investigation found shocks lasting 45 and 99 seconds, far beyond the 15-second limit.
ICE/DHS: Gloves provide tools to safely enforce immigration law
The devices are marketed as nonlethal and safe for the heart, and unlike Tasers they leave no burn or contact marks.
Risk of misuse
Critics: Shock gloves are unnecessary, cruel, and prone to misuse
Former ICE acting director John Sandweg and law professor Michael Mannheimer warn the gloves are too easy to misuse against people who pose no threat and may displace lesser force.
ICE/DHS: Gloves provide tools to safely enforce immigration law
DHS says every decision is carefully considered and reviewed to ensure any technology ICE uses is consistent with all applicable law enforcement policies and standards.
Key facts
- Cost
- $10 million to $20 million
- Device
- GLOVE (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) electric shock gloves
- Manufacturer
- Compliant Technologies LLC
- Recommended shock limit
- 15 seconds
- Contract details
- No-bid contract through March 31, 2027
- Reported death
- 43-year-old man in Richmond, Kentucky, in 2024 after 27 glove shocks and 13 Taser shocks (pending lawsuit)
- Groups to avoid per manual
- Elderly, small children, pregnant women, severely handicapped
- Key opponent
- New York Attorney General Letitia James
Quotes
Letitia James
New York Attorney General
“It’s too easy for this to get misused, against a population that doesn’t pose a threat”
NDTV
“We are outraged”
NDTV
Michael Mannheimer
Law professor, Northern Kentucky University
“One concern I would have is if ICE agents have this at their immediate disposal, will they use it more than they should? Will they jump over lesser force that could be appropriate and successful to attain compliance and instead use this first?”
NDTV
Sources
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