ICE's shock-glove plan draws bipartisan criticism over safety and misuse fears
ICE plans to buy electric shock gloves for officers, sparking outrage from Democrats and civil rights advocates over safety and misuse concerns.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing sharp criticism over its plan to equip officers with gloves capable of delivering painful electric shocks. The agency intends to spend between $10 million and $20 million on the devices, which are marketed as "conductive distraction and de-escalation tools."
The gloves, known as the G.L.O.V.E. function, operate as standard patrol gloves until an officer activates an electrical mode. They must be pressed directly against a person's skin to deliver a voltage intended to gain compliance from resisting individuals. Unlike Tasers, they reportedly leave no burn or contact marks.
The scale of the purchase suggests the devices could be issued to most or all ICE officers. The gloves have primarily been used in jail settings, but ICE agents have increasingly conducted street-level enforcement operations.
New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed outrage at a news conference, warning that officers who misuse the gloves in her state could face criminal and civil consequences. Several Democratic members of Congress, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal, Maxwell Frost, and Delia Ramirez, took to social media to argue the agency does not need another weapon.
The Department of Homeland Security, ICE's parent agency, issued a general statement saying it constantly assesses officer needs to ensure safe arrests, without addressing the product specifically.
A pending lawsuit alleges a 43-year-old man died in 2024 after being shocked 27 times with the gloves and 13 times with a Taser at a Kentucky jail. An internal investigation found two glove shocks lasted 45 and 99 seconds, far exceeding the manufacturer's recommended 15-second limit. Two other lawsuits alleging injuries from the gloves have been dismissed.
The manufacturer's manual warns against using the devices on the elderly, small children, pregnant women, and the severely handicapped. It also prohibits use for punishment, torture, or horseplay.
Former ICE acting director John Sandweg said the devices are too easily misused against non-threatening populations. Law professor Michael Mannheimer questioned whether officers would resort to the gloves instead of lesser force options.
The solicitation for a no-bid contract could be released as early as Friday, with the contract running through March 2027.